Racecards
13:25 Sandown Park
Bet365.com Esher Cup Handicap (Class 2)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £25,000 added
- Form 1449-38
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 100
held up last, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and effort on outer inside final 2f, not quicken and weakened over 1f out
Cruikadyke
189- Form 185-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer P & O Cole
- Jockey J F Egan
held up 6th, ridden over 2f out, no impression on leaders over 1f out, soon outpaced and weakened
Zaffaan
225- Form 81420-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer E A L Dunlop
- Jockey R Hills
held up 5th, pushed along 2f out, no progress, soon weakened
Feeling Fab (FR)
202- Form 23141-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey Jim Crowley
led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon lost 2nd, weakened final furlong
- Form 31440-8
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey Richard Hughes
held up 4th, ridden and effort 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out
Effort
27- Form 83303-6
- Age 3
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey S J Drowne
started slowly, soon tracked leaders, effort 2f out, soon ridden, weakened quickly over 1f out
- Form 21-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey N Mackay
tracked leader, going easily and led on bit 2f out, soon in command, ran on strongly, drew clear final furlong, pushed out easily
- Form 212
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer P W Chapple-Hyam
- Jockey A Munro
held up towards rear, headway on outside 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, no impression final furlong
Verdict
THIEF OF TIME is our idea of the most likely winner with Sohcahtoa and Cruikadyke respected. Lightly weighted, Peter Chapple-Hyam's charge caught the eye when second at Leicester earlier in the month. Granted, this is a step up in grade but he is held in some regard by the yard and there should be more to come. Sohcahtoa was a disappointment at Kempton last time out. He may need a soft lead in order to run to anything like his best. Cruikadyke represents a yard that have found favour in the markets of late. He ran well in Ireland before producing a below par effort at Newmarket on his last start. Feeling Fab stayed on pluckily to win over seven furlongs at Newmarket and should get this mile on balance. Effort steps up in trip while Midnight Cruiser tests the validity of the Racing Post Trophy form. Racketeer had two back end runs on artificial surfaces and makes a turf debut this afternoon. Thief Of Time gets our vote.
Formwatch
Sohcahtoa (IRE) 4-1 (8-12) Took keen hold, chased leader to well over 1f out, soon driven, weakened final furlong, 8th of 9, 6l behind Pure Poetry (8-12) at Kempton 1m 3yo Listed stks (1) pol.
Cruikadyke 10-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 7l behind On Our Way (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2yo stk (2) gd in Oct.
Zaffaan 20-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, stand's side, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 18th of 21, 18l behind Awinnersgame (8-9) at Doncaster 6f 2yo aut (2) sft in Sep.
Feeling Fab (FR) 9-1 (9-7) Led stand side group, chased leader 4f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, joined over 1f out, driven inside final furlong, stayed on gamely, won at Newmarket 7f 2yo fll hcp (2) gf in Oct beating Brierty (8-13) by hd, 12 ran.
Midnight Cruiser (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Mid-division, hung right 2 out, ridden halfway, raced wide on bend into straight, soon beaten, eased, last of 8, 15l behind Ocean's Minstrel (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 3yo Listed stks (1) pol.
Effort 8-1 (8-12) Mid-division, close enough 2f out, soon ridden and no impression from over 1f out, 6th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Daddy's Gift (8-8) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Mar.
Racketeer (IRE) 5-2 (9-3) Held up behind leaders, smooth progress to lead over 1f, ridden and kept on gamely final furlong, won at Southwell 1m 2yo mdn stks (5) fbs in Dec beating Lord Chancellor (9-3) by hd, 7 ran.
Thief of Time (IRE) 7-1 (8-13) Keen, held up, headway 3f out, ridden and every chance from over 1f out, stayed on gamely inside final furlong under strong pressure, just held, 2nd of 7, nk behind Kings Destiny (9-0) at Leicester 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gf.