15:00 Sandown

Sunday 5 July 2020

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:3517:10

Coral Challenge (Handicap)

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 1m 43.51s

(10)

Qaysar¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: R L Moore| T: R Hannon| OR: 107| D

14/1

Won four times between August and September 2019 (7f-1m), including on soft ground in the Gordon Lord Byron Stakes at Haydock Park; promising seasonal reappearance (third); ninth of 23 in the Royal Hunt Cup latest; weight the main concern.

Form: 6118-39

(9)

Dark Vision¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: W Buick| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 106| D

16/5

Runner-up to the subsequent Silver Royal Hunt Cup winner Sir Busker at Newcastle early last month; he himself took the main prize (the Royal Hunt Cup) by edging out Montatham (third-placed Pogo a winner since) 18 days ago; now 6lb higher.

Form: 5630-21

(3)

Chatez²²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: M Harley| T: A King| OR: 104| D

50/1

Hasn't seen a great deal of competitive action since winning the Spring Cup at Newbury (1m, good to soft) in April 2019; 5lb higher; should strip fitter for the benefit of a recent run (in a Newbury Grp 3).

Form: 402/15-7

(6)

Montatham¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 100| D

6/5

Improving four-year-old; hit hard by the assessor (raised 8lb) after making a winning seasonal reappearance at Newmarket; headed (by Dark Vision) inside the final 110yds of the Royal Hunt Cup subsequently; 2lb higher, yet 3lb better off with winner.

Form: 1324-12

(5)

Zwayyan²⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 98| D

25/1

Wolverhampton winner (March 2019); found the frame in the Shergar Cup Mile (won by Power Of Darkness) at Ascot last summer; competes from the same mark here, but is returning from a 296-day absence; safer to look elsewhere.

Form: 470344-

(8)

Via Serendipity^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: Hollie Doyle| T: S C Williams| OR: 88| CD

12/1

No stranger to the winners enclosure (7-31 career), including twice on Newmarket's Rowley Mile (7f-1m); low-key on his last couple of starts, and struggling to take advantage of an ever-easing turf mark; stablemate of Marronnier.

Form: 15-2100

(11)

Mutasaamy¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 88| D

9/1

Late developer; flopped at Newcastle (surface riding slow) on his penultimate start, but back on track with an authoritative display at Kempton (2-2 there) 15 days ago; sits 10lb higher in a stronger contest (Cl 2), but could have more too offer.

Form: 7721-81

(7)

Gallipoli^v⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-1| J: P Mathers| T: R A Fahey| OR: 84| D

33/1

Twice successful already this calendar year, including when springing a 28-1 surprise in a Class 3 handicap at Redcar (1m, good to firm) last week; sits 4lb higher (on probable softer ground) in a stronger race; others are more convincing.

Form: 0-63171

(1)

Acquitted¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-1| J: Jason Watson| T: H Palmer| OR: 93| D

11/2

Briefly had the exciting Palace Pier under pressure at Newcastle (1m) on his penultimate start; has since finished a heavily eased last of 14 in the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot (1m2f, soft); swift turnaround to overcome; clear potential.

Form: 141-20

Non-Runners

(4)

Shelir¹

Weight: 8-12| Age: 4

T: D O'Meara J: Non Runner

(2)

Marronnier²⁸⁰

Weight: 8-9| Age: 4

T: S C Williams J: B A Curtis

Forecasts

Montatham (6/5), Dark Vision (16/5), Acquitted (11/2), Mutasaamy (9/1), Shelir (10/1), Via Serendipity (12/1), Qaysar (14/1), Marronnier (14/1), Zwayyan (25/1), Gallipoli (33/1), Chatez (50/1)

A top-quality Class 2 handicap, which features a fascinating re-match between the Royal Hunt Cup 1-2 Dark Vision and MONTATHAM. On 3lb better terms (for 1¼L), the fast-improving William Haggas-trained runner is fancied to gain his revenge under the handling of the former champion jockey Jim Crowley. The Royal Hunt Cup form was given a direct boost earlier this week with the third-placed Pogo making all to score at Windsor. Of the remainder, the likes of Mutasaamy and Acquitted make appeal as up-and-coming youngsters, although the latter was undoubtedly disappointing at Royal Ascot (1m2f). Meanwhile, Shelir was also declared to race at Haydock on Saturday (2.40pm).