14:25 Sandown

Saturday 4 July 2026

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4717:22

Coral Challenge (Handicap)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 1m 40.72s

(10)

Liberty Lane^p1²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: R L Moore| T: K R Burke| OR: 110| D

18/1

Won the 2024 Cambridgeshire and added 2 listed races over 1¼m last year. Hasn't reached the same heights this season, though, including mid-field in Epsom handicap (1¼m, good to soft) 29 days ago. Back down in trip. Needs first-time cheekpieces to spark a return to his very best.

Form: 341-548

(4)

Ebt's Guard¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 104| D

8/1

A real standing dish in these top handicaps, producing another cracking effort when fourth of 28 in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot last month. Expect him to give it his usual good shot from a handy inside draw.

Form: 224-044

(15)

Excellent Believe¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: J Channon| OR: 103| D

14/1

Useful sort who has placed 4 times at listed level but disappointed back in a handicap when beating only one in last month's Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot. Bounce back needed.

Form: 122-330

(16)

Balmacara⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 103

50/1

Useful gelding who has been banging his head against a brick wall at listed/Group 3 level this year but life may not be much easier back in handicap company from such a lofty mark, especially from stall 16.

Form: 200-376

(5)

Classic¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 99| CD

7/1

Won this last year (good record here) and has started 2026 in cracking form, building on Newbury Spring Cup second when edging out Indalo back there (1m) in May. That form was advertised several times at Royal Ascot and he shaped as if still in good nick himself when ninth of 28 in the Hunt Cup.

Form: 128-219

(3)

Indalo^h¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Ray Dawson| T: R Varian| OR: 99| CD

9/4

C&D winner last July and has done little but progress since, including close second in the Cambridgeshire last autumn and third of 28 (first home in his group) in Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot 17 days ago. Another bold bid looks assured.

Form: 1412-23

(14)

Ozat¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Spencer| T: Ian Williams| OR: 99| D

25/1

Four-time winner in France and showed promise at the third time of asking for the Ian Williams yard when running on late from the rear (started slowly) for eighth of 28 in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot.

Form: 248-008

(11)

Popmaster²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: K Shoemark| T: E Walker| OR: 97| D

50/1

Likeable 8-y-o who has been at the top of his game on all-weather this year, winning at Kempton (1m) and runner-up on 3 other occasions. Also a creditable fourth of 18 on turf at Epsom (8.5f, good to soft) last time but probably vulnerable to younger legs in a race as hot at this.

Form: 122704

(9)

Hard Endeavor²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Billy Loughnane| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 97| D

7/1

Won an all-weather novice at Kempton last year. Well held behind a few of these on Newbury reappearance but bounced back from that with a good 3¼ lengths fourth of 12 to Beagle Bay over C&D (good) 21 days ago, nearest finish.

Form: 3315-04

(13)

Sea Force^t1⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Harry Davies| T: W J Haggas| OR: 94| BF| D

12/1

Ended last season with a useful effort to win at Yarmouth (9f, soft). Caught the eye (met trouble) when third of 13 to Mirsky in Thirsk Hunt Cup (1m, good) in May but not in the same form at the York Dante meeting 12 days later. Freshened up since. Cheekpieces off, first-time tongue tie on.

Form: 461-630

(6)

Mirsky¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D O'Meara| OR: 94| D

20/1

Stepped forward from reappearance to land the Thirsk Hunt Cup (1m, good) in May but has found life harder since, including seventh of 28 in Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot (7f, good to firm) last month. Others are more obvious.

Form: 9-31007

(7)

Tribal Chief^t⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Saffie Osborne| T: D Menuisier| OR: 93| D

4/1

Has looked better than ever when third in the Lincoln at Doncaster (1m, good) and Victoria Cup at Ascot (7f, good to firm) this season. Shaped better than the result in the latter having had to weave his way through from the rear (best of those held up). Interesting from an unchanged mark.

Form: 6107-33

(8)

Bourbon Blues¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Connor Planas| T: B J Meehan| OR: 102

25/1

Useful performer who ran well when 4 lengths sixth of 18 in Golden Gates at Royal Ascot (1¼m, good to firm) a fortnight ago. May find it a bit easier taking on his elders now but he'll require a really smart performance to defy his triple digit mark.

Form: 322-306

(1)

City Of Poets¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Rob Hornby| T: J Tate| OR: 92| D

25/1

Shaped up well this season prior to resuming winning ways at Redcar (1m, good) 15 days ago, holding on gamely. Only nudged up 1 lb for that narrow success.

Form: 21-3941

Non-Runners

(17)

Cerulean Bay¹⁷

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: D O'Meara J: Non Runner

(2)

River King¹⁶

Weight: 8-11| Age: 4

T: R Hannon J: S M Levey

(12)

Beagle Bay²¹

Weight: 8-10| Age: 4

T: R M Beckett J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Indalo (9/4), Tribal Chief (4/1), Beagle Bay (6/1), Hard Endeavor (7/1), Classic (7/1), Ebt's Guard (8/1), Cerulean Bay (8/1), River King (10/1), Sea Force (12/1), Excellent Believe (14/1), Liberty Lane (18/1), Mirsky (20/1), City Of Poets (25/1), Bourbon Blues (25/1), Ozat (25/1), Popmaster (50/1), Balmacara (50/1)

TRIBAL CHIEF has been third in a pair of top-end handicaps from the same mark this year and the way he kept on from further back than ideal in the Victoria Cup last time suggests he can win one when things fall right. Similar comments apply to recent Royal Hunt Cup third Indalo and he's second choice ahead of Beagle Bay, who almost certainly has more to come on the back of last month's C&D success. The reliable Ebt's Guard and last year's winner Classic are others likely to have a say.