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Racecards

16:15 Sandown Park

Coral Marathon (registered As The Esher Stakes) (listed) (Class 1)

  • 7 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 78y
  • Going: Good to Firm
  • Surface: Turf
  • £37,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 3m 29.86s
  • Off Time: 16:15:24
  • 7 Ran
1(7)
Silk - Purple and Emerald Green diabolo, Royal Blue and Yellow halved sleeves, Orange cap
14/1
  • Form 994314
  • Age 7
  • Weight 9-5
  • Official Rating 107

held up last, effort on outside and driven along 2f out, staying on when not clear run and switched sharply right to inside to chase winner final 110 yards, held when short of room close home

2(4)
Silk - YELLOW, BLACK epaulets
  • Form 171-131
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-3
  • Official Rating 110

held up in 6th, pushed along 3f out, headway on outside 2f out, went 3rd and stayed on same pace final furlong

3(6)
Silk - Royal Blue, White epaulets, striped cap
7/1
  • Form 31/1-262
  • Age 6
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 106

led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened and eased over 1f out

4(8)
Silk - Light blue, dark blue chevrons and sleeves, dark blue and light blue quartered cap
8/1
  • Form 2115-14
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 105

soon held up in touch, steady headway and squeezed through between horses over 2f out, led over 1f out, driven and stayed on, in command when edged right close home

5(3)
Silk - Burgundy, Yellow rising sun, Burgundy cap
4/5
  • Form 11213-2
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 114

keen, held up in touch, effort and edging right over 2f out, driven and hung right over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong

7(1)
Silk - Turquoise, Black braces, Cerise cap

Ringaroses

14 t D
33/1
  • Form 8
  • Age 9
  • Weight 9-0

tracked leader until over 3f out, losing place when slightly hampered over 2f out, soon behind and eased, tailed off

8(5)
Silk - Pink, White sleeves

Samuel

728 BF
16/1
  • Form 329312/
  • Age 6
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 110

keen, soon close up tracking leaders, went 2nd going well over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, one pace and held when hamperd last half furlong

6(2)
NR
  • Form 3626/37
  • Age 6
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 107

Nonrunner

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

ILLUSTRIOUS BLUE had an awful lot to do last time and whilst this won't be easy under his penalty he is fancied to see off Opinion Poll and Manighar in a competitive renewal. William Knight's stable star has looked a different horse this year since stepping up in trip. Once known as just a Goodwood specialist his win at Ascot and his solid run here last time set him aside as a major candidate today. Aajel was second to him in April before flopping at York when well-fancied. He bounced back in the Queen Alexandra Stakes last time when runner-up to Bergo and this strong-stayer should not be given an easy lead. King Of Wands is better than his two Goodwood runs and his beating of Tactic at Ripon in April reads well, as does Opinion Poll's progression this year when trying trips that test his stamina. He gets one today and is hard to ignore. Manighar holds a few of these on his (distant) second to Holberg at Goodwood but it's his third to Ask at Longchamp when in the care of Alain De Royer-Dupre last year that makes him stand out. Ringaroses is a solid chaser but will struggle here in all likelihood, whilst Petara Bay should relish the step back up in trip this afternoon. Samuel needs a market check as this Sakhee gelding returns from 728 days on the sidelines; it's interesting that connections have kept faith and he cannot be dismissed on this first run for John Gosden. Interesting fayre then, but the vote goes to Illustrious Blue.

Formwatch

Illustrious Blue 7-1 (9-2) Steadied start, held up last and well off the, pace, took keen hold as pace steadied 6f out, headway on outside over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong to 4th near finish, never able to challenge, 4th of 9, 4l behind Akmal (9-0) at Sandown 2m Grp 2 (1) gf in May.

Opinion Poll (IRE) (9-1) won at Chantilly(FR) 1m 7f stk (1) sft in Jun beating Aizavoski (9-4) by 3/4l, 11 ran.

Aajel (USA) 11-1 (9-2) Raced wide 3f, with leaders, led after 7f, narrowly headed over 2f out, chased winner and kept trying, held towards finish, 2nd of 18, 1 1/2l behind Bergo (9-2) at Royal Ascot 2m 6f stks (2) gf in Jun.

King of Wands 7-2 (9-0) Held up, headway to track winner 7f out until ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 8, 9l behind Holberg (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 4f Listed stks (1) gd in Jun.

Manighar (FR) 7-1 (9-9) In touch, ridden 2f out, stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Holberg (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 4f Listed stks (1) gd in Jun.

Ringaroses 10-1 (9-2) Held up well in rear, headway on wide outside over 2f out, one pace final 2f, never reached leaders, 8th of 18, 9l behind Bergo (9-2) at Royal Ascot 2m 6f stks (2) gf in Jun.

Samuel 11-4fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3f out, led over 1f out, kept on, pressed inside final furlong, headed final stride, 2nd of 7, shd behind Distinction (9-3) at Sandown 2m Listed stks (1) gf in Jul '08.

Petara Bay (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders on outside, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 7th of 11, 18l behind Harbinger (9-0) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) gf in Jun.