20:00 Sandown

Thursday 27 May 2021

All17:4518:1518:5019:2520:0020:30

Coral Whitsun Cup Handicap

Off time: 20:00 | Winning time: 1m 46.51s

(1)

History Writer^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: D Menuisier| OR: 93| CD

5/2

Big improver in 2019, including heavy-ground listed win. Struggled in pattern company in 2020 but has shown enough to suggest he retains ability in some top-end handicaps this year. Each-way shout.

Form: 509-008

(6)

Dashing Roger¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Marco Ghiani⁽³⁾| T: W Stone| OR: 92| D

5/1

Four-time winner last year. Yet to hit top form in 2021 but latest Newmarket fourth was a slight step back in the right direction.

Form: 215-704

(8)

Mustarrid^t1⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: B A Curtis| T: Ian Williams| OR: 92| D

33/1

Heavy-ground winner last year. Not disgraced on Haydock return but ran poorly at Nottingham on Sunday. Has a tongue strap on for the first time.

Form: 0014-76

(7)

Epic Endeavour²²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: K Shoemark| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 90| D

4/1

Progressive handicapper last autumn, winning 3 times at up to 1m (good/good to soft). Could well have more to come in 2021. Respected.

Form: 441211-

(5)

Newbolt³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 88| D

12/1

Won at Haydock and Southwell (1m) in 2020. Ran well at latter track in January but found the Spring Cup all too competitive on return to turf at Newbury last month. Others more obvious.

Form: 0321-20

(2)

Ransom²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 88| BF

9/2

Looked good prospect when winning first 2 starts (both 7f AW). Suffered a short-priced reversal on 7f Kempton handicap debut but retains plenty of potential, with 1m looking sure to suit. Turf debut.

Form: 1-14

(4)

Imperial Command²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: D C Costello| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 88| D

40/1

Has progressed to win 3 times on AW at Newcastle since joining this stable. However, he was found out when stepping up into a Class 3 handicap last time and needs to show he's as good on turf.

Form: 31-7119

(10)

Gin Palace²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 87| D

10/1

Had another fine campaign in 2020, winning 1m handicaps at Newbury and Newmarket. Shaped as if back in good form when fifth of 9 at Ascot last month and he's back on a winning mark. Acts on soft.

Form: 2630-85

(3)

Semser¹⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: S W Kelly| T: G & J Moore| OR: 85

40/1

Placed on all 3 starts for Roger Varian prior to winning over 9f on AW in France in December (sole run for Francis-Henri Graffard). Unexposed and interesting runner on first run for Gary Moore.

Form: 2231-

(9)

Sword Beach^v1¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 73| D

10/1

Encouraging third at Leicester on reappearance. Disappointed at Beverley next time but latest Beverley run is easy to ignore as he met trouble. Visored first time.

Form: 338-376

Forecasts

History Writer (5/2), Epic Endeavour (4/1), Ransom (9/2), Dashing Roger (5/1), Sword Beach (10/1), Gin Palace (10/1), Newbolt (12/1), Mustarrid (33/1), Imperial Command (40/1), Semser (40/1)

RANSOM was turned over when favourite for his AW handicap debut 3 weeks ago but it wasn't a bad run and 1m looks sure to see him in a better light now switching to turf for the first time. Epic Endeavour did very well at the end of 2020 and will be a threat if primed for this return, while this is a little easier than the races History Writer has run in this season and he's a dual C&D winner.