held up in 5th, steady headway on outside 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, went 2nd inside final 2f, soon ridden, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, no chance with winner
sweating, held up in 6th, switched left and steady headway on outside 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, 3rd inside final 2f, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
raced led and set good pace, steadied halfway, joined 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakening when hung right over 1f out
soon tracking leader, challenged 3f out, led briefly 2f out, soon ridden, lost 2nd inside final 2f, chased leaders, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders on inside, ridden 2f out, soon hung right and weakened
held up in last pair, ridden and no response 2f out, soon beaten
tracked leading pair, challenged on outside over 2f out, led travelling well entering final 2f, clear inside final furlong, stayed on strongly
steadied start, held up last, headway over 2f out, modest 4th inside final furlong
The first race on a cracking Sandown card can go to the unbeaten KINGS SHIELD. He followed an opening novice success with victory in a conditions race at Kempton earlier this month and the Gosden yard is in red-hot form. Vintager came up short in the Horris Hill at Newbury when last in action while Merlin Magic was well beaten in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October. But that pair may prove the biggest dangers now handicapping for the first time given the progressive Desert Wind steps up in class and Dream Warrior drops back in distance having returned a losing favourite at Lingfield on his reappearance. Lawn Ranger was well beaten by the selection at Kempton and Chookie Dunedin has something to prove now.
Vintager 7-2 (9-0) Went left start, tracked near side leader, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 6, 3 1/4l behind Nebo (9-0) at Newbury 7f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Oct.
Kings Shield (USA) 4-6fav (9-2) Raced wide tracked leader, led narrowly entering final furlong, asserted towards finish, won at Kempton 1m stks (2) pol in Apr beating One Cool Daddy (9-2) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Chookie Dunedin 25-1 (9-3) Soon led, headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 11, 7 1/4l behind Book of Dreams (8-12) at Musselburgh 1m hcp (2) hvy in Mar.
Dream Warrior Evensfav (9-9) Close up, ridden over 1f out, no impression, 5th of 10, 5 1/2l behind Hinde Street (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (5) pol in Apr.
Lawn Ranger 10-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Kings Shield (9-2) at Kempton 1m stks (2) pol in Apr.
Motown Mick (IRE) 7-2 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, just held post, 2nd of 4, hd behind Ojala (8-12) at Kempton 7f hcp (3) pol in Feb.
Merlin Magic 66-1 (9-1) Chased clear leading pair, closed halfway, ridden and weakened 2f out, 9th of 12, 18l behind Saxon Warrior (9-1) at Doncaster 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gs in Oct.
Regular Income (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Awkwardly away, in touch in rear, headway over 2f out, driven to chase leaders over 1f out, not clear run inside final furlong, kept on, 5th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Crownthorpe (9-7) at Ripon 1m hcp (3) sft in Apr.
Desert Wind (IRE) 7-4 (9-10) Always prominent, led over 1f out, ran on, pushed out, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (5) pol in Feb beating Caspar The Cub (9-2) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
