SANDOWN

7:50 IGINDEX.CO.UK HANDICAP (CLASS 3) (4yo+,0-90) 1m

IVORY LACE 9-9 ~ 7f on fast ground in mid summer are the ideal conditions for this 7yo mare. When the pace is strong this hold up performer can be even more dangerous and she has a very decent strike rate for such an exposed horse. However she has yet to win over a mile and soft ground isn’t likely to suit so she is taken on in todays conditions.

OVERTURN 9-9 ~ Missed the whole of last season through injury so this 4yo gelding has to prove, first he has trained on and secondly he has retained all his ability. He had looked a promising colt when running an eyecatching race on debut before comfortably breaking his maiden here at Sandown. However both those efforts came on quick ground and next time at Ascot on soft ground he struggled in the conditions. Todays drying ground is likely to suit him better, which will help, and he shouldn’t have a problem with the trip on better ground. He was due to run at Kempton earlier on in the season and was well backed before failing to go in the stalls but it suggests connections have faith that the horse has retained all his ability. This is his first run in a handicap so he could potentially be nicely treated but on 87 his mark looks on the stiff side and after such a long break from the track he is sure to be in need of the run so is probably one for next time.

PRINCE OF THEBES 9-8 ~ He hasn’t won for two years but in his heyday he managed to finished 3rd in both the Victoria Cup and Golden Mile. A reproduction of those efforts would make him hard to beat but he struggled last season and has looked a shadow of his former self. He ran an encouraging race last time at Warwick but the ground is important to this 7yo and he would need the ground to dry out before he can be considered.  

KESTREL CROSS 9-7 ~ A cheap purchase but turned into a real money spinner winning a number of valuable races in Ireland. His last was his win in the 2005 Irish Cambridgeshire but after his 3yo season he moved yards and without trainer Kevin Prendergast the horse has struggled. He has now moved again though and under the wing of Luca Cumani it isn’t unreasonable to suggest the wily Italian can bring the horse back to his best. He hasn’t run for more than a year so is sure to need the run and he’ll need the ground to continue to dry out. However on the plus side the horse is well handicapped on the best of his form and he has already proved he has the class to win much better handicaps than this. A very interesting contender and he deserves particular attention in the market.

ZERO COOL 9-3 ~ Once trained by John Gosden but was bought by Gary Moore to go jumping at the end of last season. His one effort over jumps didn’t go well so he has returned to the flat and he looked to be going nowhere till he was dropped down in trip last time. He finished 3rd behind the run away winner Bushman over course and distance but he had some decent handicappers in behind. He needs to improve on that to win todays race but at least it proves he will have no issues with todays race conditions and that he is in decent nick so a place isn’t out of the question.

CACTUS KING 9-2 ~ Another John Gosden cast off and after making a winning debut for connections last season the horse seemed to lose his way. He bounced back to form when winning a claimer at Kempton on his seasonal reappearance this year and the horse definitely appeared to be better animal when fresh. So it was something of a surprise to see him run so well in a decent handicap over course and distance last time. That was a flat v jump jockey handicap so a bit of a novelty race but it will be interesting to see how the form works out and whether he can build on that performance. If the horse can be trusted to hold his form and the ground continues to dry out he can’t be ruled out easily.

FULL VICTORY 9-1 ~ Showed considerable improvement when first joining his current yard two years ago. He’s a horse who seems ideally suited by a mile and some cut in the ground so conditions should be ideal if come race time they’re still as advised this morning. He has started this season in fine nick and won a decent handicap at Beverley when drawn in the car park. He didn’t take to the fibresand at Southwell next time but back on turf at Newbury last time, in conditions that should have suited, he finished a disappointing 6th. It could be that the handicapper has caught up with him but he deservers another chance in what should be ideal conditions.

TWILIGHT STAR 9-0 ~ Former Godolpin colt but he was gelded before he had even run, suggesting he had been far from straightforward. He moved to his current yard at the end of last season but he hasn’t really shown the sort of form in four starts to suggest he’ll be able to take a handicap like this. He has ground to find on Zero Cool on his run in similar conditions last time and a minor supporting role looks highly likely.

RUSSIAN EPIC 8-13 ~ Michael Jarvis has been in excellent form this season but Russian Epic is one of the stables lesser lights. The 4yo son of Diktat has repeatedly looked one paced and despite a slightly more encouraging run last time at Haydock he again looks vulnerable.

CARLITOS SPIRIT 8-12 ~ It took the Rod Millman gelding 14th runs before he managed to break his maiden. Once he got his head in front though the 4yo hasn’t looked back and has continued the progress. After running well on the all weather the horse defied top weight to win a mile 0-65 handicap on soft ground at Nottingham. He followed that up with a win in a ladies rider handicap on the firm turf at Lingfield. He looks a versatile sort regarding ground and he’s in the form of his life but he’ll have to improve again to win in todays tougher race off a career high mark. The horse is clearly heading in the right direction though so has to be considered in todays race.

ROCK ANTHEM 8-10 ~ Trained by John Dunlop last season but after showing promise when winning at Goodwood the horse flattered to deceive. He moved to Mike Murphy at the end of last season and after two poor effort this year on the all weather he turned that around to win a decent handicap on the fibresand at Southwell. He was hit by a 6lbs rise in the handicap for that win in a race that has worked out well but back on the turf at Beverley he was comfortably put in his place by Full Victory. Much more needed today and he’ll probably need the ground to dry out. Overall there isn’t too much to get excited about and in this company he is ruled out.

RIGHT STUFF 8-8 ~ No more than an average handicapper in France but he makes his debut for his new trainer in todays race. He hasn’t run for a couple of months though and is sure to need the run in terms of both fitness and experience. Ryan Moore prefers stable mate Zero Cool and a watching brief is advised.

CONCLUSION

A competitive handicap and it won’t be easy to find the winner. To make things even harder there looks to be a distinct lack of pace in the race so hold up horses are sure to be at a disadvantage. Also with the ground on the soft side there are only a few horses in the line up that are sure to go in the conditions. As a result the two that stand out are Full Victory and Carlitos Spirit.
Slight preference is for Full Victory who likes to race prominently and so should be able to take advantage of his favourable draw. The stiff finish will play to his strength and the ground will only be a positive. Everything looks in the horses favour and he is given the tentative nod.

1pt WIN – FULL VICTORY @ 5/1

RESULT

FULL VICTORY 6th = -1pts