13:50 Sandown

Friday 26 April 2024

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

bet365 Esher Cup Handicap

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 1m 45.48s

(2)

Cuban Tiger²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 99| D

9/1

Has made rapid strides since making a winning debut over 6f at Southwell in January, bagging a 1m Newcastle listed race on Good Friday. Presumably found the run coming too soon when below form in Chelmsford conditions race only 8 days later. Capable of bouncing back on turf debut for in-form yard.

Form: 1217

(5)

Blue Lemons²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Joe Leavy⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 98

10/1

Debut winner on soft ground at Leicester last September. Has achieved better form in defeat since (hampered when sixth of 8 in valuable Chelmsford conditions race on reappearance) but it's hard to argue his opening mark looks generous.

Form: 137-6

(1)

Cracking Gold³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rossa Ryan| T: C G Cox| OR: 92| BF

5/1

Won 7f novices at Kempton and Lingfield on first 2 starts. Lost his unbeaten record but ran with credit when close second in 1m Kempton handicap last month. Steps up to 1m now making his turf debut. Remains capable of better.

Form: 112

(4)

Hand Of God²⁰²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R L Moore| T: Harry Charlton| OR: 88| D

1/1

Promising sort who got off the mark in good style in maiden company at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) last October. There's better to come at 3 and Ryan Moore has been booked for this handicap debut and reappearance.

Form: 451-

(8)

Royal Supremacy¹⁹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 86| C| D

3/1

Won on 7f course debut last August. Behind Blue Lemons when well-held fourth in useful Newbury novice next time but straight back on the up when landing a 1m Kempton nursery in October. In good hands and could easily be more to come after only 3 starts.

Form: 141-

Non-Runners

(7)

Cogitate³⁷

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: C Hills J: Tom Marquand

(3)

Rocking Tree²⁵

Weight: 8-12| Age: 3

T: G Boughey J: Non Runner

(6)

Nellie Leylax¹⁹⁶

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: Tom Dascombe J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

Forecasts

Hand Of God (1/1), Royal Supremacy (3/1), Cogitate (7/2), Rocking Tree (4/1), Cracking Gold (5/1), Cuban Tiger (9/1), Blue Lemons (10/1), Nellie Leylax (10/1)

Always a very useful 3-y-o handicap. An opening mark in the high 80s looks manageable for HAND OF GOD on the back of his taking Newmarket maiden success last autumn so he gets the vote under Ryan Moore. Cracking Gold and Cuban Tiger have done well on AW this year and are feared most.