2 Jul 2021
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1.15 - Coral 'Beaten-By-A-Length' Free Bet Handicap (5f)
Mokaatil won last month's Epsom Dash in strong fashion at the line. The six-year-old is a solid performer and trainer Ian Williams reaches for a first-time visor here in attempting to follow-up from 6lb higher. He has handled this track in the past and, as one of three last-time-out winners, will be on plenty shortlists.
The other recent winners are Spoof and Saaheq. The former scored a week ago for Charlie Hills at Chester, his seventh turf win in 33 career attempts. Given that he recorded a rapid hat-trick of wins last summer, it would be wise to give him due consideration being only 2lb higher here with James Doyle taking over.
The busy Saaheq was behind Mokaatil at Epsom four weeks ago before winning over C&D seven days later. That was his second win of 2021 on his tenth start. He's still on a workable mark compared to his best form.
This rates an interesting target for French import Hurricane Ivor on just his second run for William Haggas. He beat nothing home at York (5f, soft) in May but the handicapper has quickly cut him some slack and better should be forthcoming.
LIHOU is as likely as any to run his race. He has been knocking on the door in four turf runs since the start of May and has eased 4lb in the ratings during that time. He was strong through the line when 3/4-length fourth at Chester last time under this claiming rider and a repeat will have them in the mix.
1.50 - Coral Charge (Group 3, 5f)
Lazuli is the obvious starting point. He is a former C&D winner with plenty dash about him for Charlie Appleby and James Doyle and he arrives here having defied a penalty to win the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket at the beginning of May on his British seasonal bow.
He gave 3lb to runner-up Came From The Dark that afternoon and prevailed by a neck. They meet on the same terms now and there shouldn't be much separating them again. Lazuli was beaten four-lengths in fifth when starting second-favourite in this contest a year ago.
Ed Walker's Came From The Dark was closing rapidly in that Newmarket race and would have collared Lazuli granted another stride or two. He's got strong claims again, though the hold-up performer will of course need to get the breaks in his challenge.
Keep Busy finished a creditable fifth in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot before grabbing a good opportunity when it was presented to her at Ayr 11 days ago. Ryan Moore missed the trip to Scotland but returns now and is a good ally for John Quinn's consistent filly.
Arecibo was behind Lazuli and Came From The Dark at Newmarket in May (sixth, had excuses) but has won two handicaps at that venue either side and now comes here on the back of a career-best when second in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot last month behind Oxted. Robert Cowell's gelding must be on any shortlist with that run in mind.
Marco Botti's colt ATALIS BAY faces his toughest challenge to date here. The 3YO was an all-the-way C&D winner three weeks ago and is fancied to run a big race under Andrea Atzeni here getting weight from his elders.
He can lay up on the pace but certainly doesn't have to make the running. He's been making good forward strides this season and there may be plenty more to come from him at an each-way price in this tougher grade.
2.25 - Coral Challenge Handicap (1m)
Magical Morning posted a decent comeback in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot 17 days ago, finishing eighth after moving well for a long way. This is a competitive race, though perhaps not so daunting as that assignment. John & Thady Gosden's four-year-old is entitled to be sharper for the outing and looks sure to have a leading say now under Frankie Dettori.
He's not alone in having run in the Hunt Cup last time. Beat Le Bon defied early keenness to run on best of these into fifth spot, while the likes of Trais Flours, Escobar and Maydanny must hope for better here.
Ransom was having his first turf start when he finished third over C&D (soft) in late May. This is tougher on paper but Sir Michael Stoute's Kingman colt is very lightly-raced and entitled to progress again here.
Marie's Diamond was Group 3-placed at Newmarket on first start of the season over 1m1f and didn't shape badly in last month's Diomed Stakes at Epsom for Mark Johnston. An opening handicap mark of 105 is demanding enough, however.
Montatham represents an in-form William Haggas team and has a 5lb claimer bidding to offset his top-weight burden on what is his first start since March, while David O'Meara's Orbaan ran well on the all-weather at Newcastle nine days ago after a wind op and is on a rating from which he should be competitive.
Things didn't go to plan for BEDOUIN'S STORY in a Royal Ascot handicap last time, with a slow start scuppering his chances. The Saeed bin Suroor inmate stays further than the bare mile and his Meydan form in the early part of the year showed he lost none of his ability despite sitting out all of 2020. In-form Pat Cosgrave takes over now and they are entitled to each-way claims if getting away sharper.
3.00 - Coral Distaff (Fillies' Listed, 1m)
STATEMENT's reappearance second to Alcohol Free in the Fred Darling at Newbury was very encouraging and the winner has held up that form since. Martyn Meade's runner was well fended off in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and then slightly disappointing to only manage third last month at Epsom.
Hold-up tactics in that latest start didn't pay off and it might be that this more conventional track proves an aid. In any case, the lightly-raced Lawman filly is the standard-setter and can take advantage of this drop into Listed company with Ryan Moore legged up for the first time.
Senita was promising last season but has run two disappointing races this season, leaving John & Thady Gosden's Frankel filly with plenty to prove here.
Shine For You has shaped well enough in tough assignments at York and Newcastle this season and could still do better for the Richard Hannon team, while Glesga Girl is perhaps better than she ultimately showed in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot recently (moved well for a long way).
Lightly-raced all-weather winner Auria was second to Creative Flair on seasonal bow at Ascot over this trip in a conditions race in April and perhaps didn't quite see out 1m2f at Newbury last time in a Listed race won by the same Godolphin rival. She has scope for better and should be suited back over a mile.
3.35 - Coral-Eclipse (Group 1, 1m2f)
Just four contenders for the Eclipse, the lowest turnout in a decade and - to some extent - something of a disappointment. Numbers aside, it's still a fascinating race and offers the generational clash the race is famed for.
St Mark's Basilica represents Aidan O'Brien - without a win in this race since So You Think in 2011 - and the Classic generation. The Siyouni colt has bagged the French Guineas and Derby this season, looking a much-improved performer in doing so. On the track, his results suggest he's the leading Ballydoyle 3YO colt right now.
His big rival is MISHRIFF, a year his senior and winner of the French Derby last summer for the Gosden team. He's been globetrotting since. He won the Saudi Cup in February, beating some top-class American dirt horses on their own terms, and backed that up a month later in landing the Sheema Classic at Meydan over 1m4f.
Both wins came under David Egan and the young rider keeps the seat, while this slight drop in trip isn't any kind of negative and the battle-hardened Make Believe colt is the one to beat.
Addeybb is a multiple Group 1 winner in his own right. Three of those have come in Australia, but William Haggas' charge also landed the Champion Stakes at Ascot (soft) last season. While soft remains in the going description, he shouldn't be discounted and further pre-race rain can only help.
Roger Varian's El Drama does appear the outsider of the party. He won Chester's Dee Stakes in May but was well held behind St Mark's Basilica at Chantilly last time and has seemingly a chunk more to find in order to slug it out with the principles here.
4.10 - Coral Proud To Support British Racing Handicap (1m2f)
Makram arrives with a solid profile this season in three starts for Roger Charlton. He's been second best at York and Redcar in good races the last twice over this trip, though he was not at his best in one previous Sandown appearance.
The form of Pivoine's victory at Haydock over this trip last month took a boost when runner-up Chichester scored afterwards at Carlisle, Andrew Balding's runner is only 3lb higher here with Oisin Murphy taking over in the saddle.
Man Of The Night is in form and there's a strong chance that Breath Caught will be ready to shine first time up, but preference is for DREAM WITH ME.
Mark Johnston's Frankel colt has been in cracking form this season, winning three of his first four starts. He attempted forcing tactics at Epsom last month and perhaps was undone by that approach. Frankie Dettori takes over today and it's quite plausible this four-year-old can shine again now.
4.45 - Play Coral 'Racing-Super-Series' For Free Handicap (7f)
Third Kingdom was disappointing in May's comeback race at Doncaster (1m, soft) having gone off favourite. It will be interesting to see if there's support again for the Gosden horse now.
Bowman was a Polytrack winner at Lingfield on comeback in April but has taken a pair of backwards steps since at York and Goodwood, leaving Frankie Dettori's mount with something to prove at the moment.
RUN TO FREEDOM ended last season winning on the all-weather at Kempton (third start) and Henry Candy's Muhaarar colt bumped into another promising sort in Silent Film when second over C&D (good) last month on his first start since December/handicap bow. A 3lb rise for that effort looks just about fair and, with promise of more to come, Oisin Murphy's mount does appear the most likely winner on paper.
Typical Man was a soft-ground Doncaster winner over this trip in May and has twice run well at Windsor (1m, good) and Newbury (7f, soft) since for Ian Williams. An array of headgear is added here and, from an unchanged mark, he could be one with each-way prospects.
5.15 - Coral Backing Prostate Cancer UK Handicap (1m2f)
The hat-trick seeking Wink Of An Eye overcame more than his fair share of traffic problems before getting up close home to win at Newmarket (1m2f, good to soft) last time out. A 4lb rise is far from certain to ground ambitions for William Haggas' Royal runner, who brings Something Enticing into play on form.
Helm Rock is the other contender bidding to complete a hat-trick. Both May wins came at Carlisle (7f/1m, soft/good to soft) and he looks a player if seeing this longer trip out as he has hinted he might. Urban War was second at Leicester last time out but has a query against stamina for this assignment.
Forever Forward backed up a near miss at Nottingham with a good place showing over this C&D three weeks ago and should be on the premises again for Clive Cox and Adam Kirby in colours more commonly known for jumps exploits at this track.
Mustazeed has been asked a question by the assessor on foot of his Yarmouth success and so GLENEAGLET is given a narrow vote.
The filly has improved in each of four starts thus far, running a big race on turf bow at Bath (1m2f, soft) in May and then finishing second in her first handicap at Nottingham on faster ground last month having made the running.
That form has a solid enough look about it and there could be more to come now with Jamie Spencer retaining the mount. She's got claims in a wide open finale.
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