20:42 Sandown

Thursday 23 May 2024

All18:0718:3719:0719:3720:1220:42

Horse Kick Cider Whitsun Cup Handicap

Off time: 20:44 | Winning time: 1m 45.67s

(6)

Navagio³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: R L Moore| T: James Horton| OR: 95| D

11/2

Useful 1m/9.5f winner in Ireland for Ray Cody last summer. Changed hands for 47,000 gns and shaped well for his new yard when third of 20 in the Lincoln at Doncaster on his return. Disappointed in Spring Cup since and could possibly do with the rain arriving.

Form: 2181-30

(5)

Classic²⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 94| C

8/1

Improved winning over 7f at Sandown in July and shaped well in defeat on his next 2 outings, picked off late only late by Crack Shot at Newbury (8f, good to firm), Meets that rival on more favourable terms here and is shortlisted on return from 8 months off.

Form: 064142-

(3)

Dual Identity³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: N Callan| T: W J Knight| OR: 93| C

17/2

Contested plenty of the big handicaps last term and back to winning ways with a wide-margin success over 10f here in September. Shaped better than the bare result when fifth of 7 at Epsom (10.1f, good to firm, 9/2) 30 days ago and he's not taken lightly with race fitness now on his side.

Form: 00100-5

(2)

Crack Shot¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Spencer| T: E Walker| OR: 92| D

16/5

Progressive at 3 yrs, edging out Classic at Newbury on his penultimate outing. Didn't really need to advance his form to make a winning return in a 6-runner handicap at Newmarket (8f, good) 19 days ago but remains low mileage and can continue on his upward curve.

Form: 12510-1

(10)

Regheeb²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 92| D

16/1

Debut winner at Nottingham last season before landing short odds at Lingfield on third start. Ran well after 5 months off when length second of 7 to Hiromichi in handicap at Ripon (8f, heavy, 14/1) 26 days ago and he remains unexposed as a miler.

Form: 16158-2

(9)

Dragon Icon⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: S De Sousa| T: R Varian| OR: 90| BF| D

15/2

Shaped very well when a fast-finishing fourth at Kempton in February. Not seen to best effect on next start but had fewer excuses when down the field at that same course last time. Others preferred.

Form: 15-0499

(11)

Al Rufaa^h¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: R Kingscote| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 88

12/1

On a decent mark given his best and still hasn't has too much racing for this yard, though headstrong tendencies have proved a major issue of late, including when ninth of 11 in handicap at Chester (10.3f, good) 14 days ago. Drop back to 1m may help him settle.

Form: 13-6209

(12)

Hiromichi^p²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Rossa Ryan| T: J Channon| OR: 86| D

9/1

Winner of 3 his last 5 outings, making a winning comeback at Lingfield last month before producing a career best when beating Regheeb at Ripon (8f, heavy) 26 days ago. Up 4 lb in a stronger contest but merits respect nonetheless.

Form: 519-141

(7)

Magic Memories^t²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: David Egan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 79| D

9/2

Generally progressive at 3 yrs and ran creditably on return when fifth in the Spring Mile at Doncaster. Disappointing at Leicester since, but overall profile is positive enough to think he could still do better this year.

Form: 2413-58

Non-Runners

(8)

Alzahir¹³

Weight: 9-10| Age: 4

T: D O'Meara J: D Tudhope

(4)

Excel Power⁵²

Weight: 9-5| Age: 6

T: A Watson J: L Morris

(1)

Bluelight Bay²²

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: Eve Johnson Houghton J: Charles Bishop

Forecasts

Crack Shot (16/5), Magic Memories (9/2), Navagio (11/2), Dragon Icon (15/2), Classic (8/1), Dual Identity (17/2), Hiromichi (9/1), Al Rufaa (12/1), Alzahir (14/1), Bluelight Bay (14/1), Regheeb (16/1), Excel Power (16/1)

DUAL IDENTITY bolted up over 10f here last season and showed enough to be positive about on his return at Epsom to think he cam resume winning ways at the chief expense of Crack Shot and Classic, who had little between them when meeting at Newbury last season and appeal as the types to progress into top-level handicappers this year.