Racecards
13:10 Sandown Park
Bet365.com Esher Cup (handicap) (Class 2)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m 14y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £20,000 added
- Form 043412-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer P Winkworth
- Jockey Jim Crowley
took keen hold, mid-division, ridden and not quicken over 2f out, soon beaten, weakened over 1f out
- Form 513-1
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer D J Coakley
- Jockey E Ahern
went right start, held up towards rear, keen early, ridden, headway and edged right over 1f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, kept on
Red Badge (IRE)
181- Form 232610-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey Richard Hughes
tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden well over 1f out, not clear run inside final furlong, no impression after
- Form 4011-8
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey J Fanning
slightly hampered start, tracked leader, led over 5f out, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headed 1f out, kept on well for 2nd, not pace of winner
Blakey's Boy
195- Form 138-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer J L Dunlop
- Jockey Ted Durcan
dwelt and slightly hampered start, held up in last, nudged along and not looking comfortable over 2f out, never in contention
Fallen Idol
225- Form 1-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey W Buick
mid-division, shaken up and headway 2f out, ridden, edged right and led 1f out, ran on well, pushed out inside final furlong, readily
Duellist
20- Form 215231
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey L Dettori
prominent, ridden well over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 8831-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 84
took keen hold, led over 2f, pressed leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
Verdict
Fallen Idol is respected but may not be an attractive price so we'll take a chance with INVINCIBLE SOUL whilst Red Badge should also go well. John Gosden won this race with a fair sort last year and there should be plenty more to come from Fallen Idol who impressed at Kempton in September when beating more experienced rivals. He's well related and bred to do better at three as he steps up in trip, is held in some regard and is clearly a decent prospect. He could be priced accordingly though and lacks experience so it may be wise to try and take him on and we'll do so with Invincible Soul who took four attempts to shed his maiden tag. The second home has franked the form with a maiden win this season and is well entered up suggesting that the Hannon runner may be able to cope with a mark of 84. The handler is also represented by Red Badge who showed a consistent level of form on a sound surface last season and should have more to offer. Duellist has his work cut out to reverse Kempton form with Huygens, Karaka Jack will enjoy the shorter trip and Blakey's Boy the drop to handicap company in a competitive opener where Invincible Soul may prove to be the value.
Formwatch
Raine's Cross 4-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, kept on until no extra towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Zeitoper (8-11) at Epsom Downs 1m 2yo stk (3) gf in Oct.
Huygens 7-1 (9-3) Held up in rear, headway on inside over 2f out, soon ridden, ran on strongly to lead inside final furlong, readily, won at Kempton 1m 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Mar beating Navajo Chief (9-7) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Red Badge (IRE) 13-2 (8-12) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 12th of 14, 8l behind Carnaby Street (8-12) at Newbury 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Karaka Jack 28-1 (9-3) Raced centre, prominent, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 16, 9l behind Coordinated Cut (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo aut stk (2) gd.
Blakey's Boy 16-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, weakened over 2f out, last of 8, 10l behind Morana (9-0) at Ascot 1m 2yo Grp 3 (1) gs in Oct.
Fallen Idol 4-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, ridden and ran green, switched left over 1f out, ran on to lead final strides, won at Kempton 7f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Sep beating Golden Shaheen (9-3) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Duellist 11-4fav (9-0) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Gallant Eagle (8-12) by 1 3/4l, 14 ran.
Invincible Soul (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Tracked leading pair, switched left over 1f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, driven out, won at Newmarket 1m 2yo mdn (4) gd in Oct beating Fair Trade (9-3) by hd, 13 ran.