Racecards
14:30 Sandown Park
Group Clean Handicap Chase (Class C)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 3m 110y
- Going: Good to Soft (Good places)(Hurdle - Good to Soft, Soft places)
Desailly
203- Form 4/1232P-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer G Balding
- Jockey B J Crowley
in rear, headway 14th, chased leaders 4 out, pressed winner 3 out, kept on but no extra approaching last
- Form 12/521-2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey J P McNamara
jumped well, led 3rd, pressed 3 out, stayed on strongly from 2 out, ridden out
- Form 14114-F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer R Buckler
- Jockey B Hitchcott
held up, in touch 16th, no impression from 3 out
Cassia Heights
191- Form 23P21-0
- Age 9
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer S A Brookshaw
- Jockey M Foley
held up, ridden 15th, soon weakened and tailed off
Bathwick Annie
223- Form 5/6111P-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer D Keane
- Jockey N D Fehily
led, headed and pecked 3rd, tracked winner after, weakened before 2 out
Sea Drifting
311- Form 252/660-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer Miss M Rowland
- Jockey A Pogson
towards rear, under pressure 4 out, weakened before 2 out
Spinofski
595- Form 2U2205/
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey T Doyle
held up 3rd, ridden 4 out, kept on one pace from 3 out
Annie Byers
21- Form 521-135
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer J Portman
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up, mistakes 12th and 15th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
River Bug (IRE)
237- Form 4/556U0-
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Jamie Poulton
- Jockey C Bolger
held up towards rear, under pressure 17th, never dangerous after, soon beaten
In depth
Verdict
Colonel Frank could be the answer to this trappy affair and he gets the narrow vote over Desailly and Rum Pointer. The selection is well-regarded by his connections and he was a good second despite lumping around a big weight behind Oneway on his seasonal reappearance. He is sure to come on for that run, his first since January, and he should take plenty of beating. Desailly rates the main danger as he is another useful type, but he failed to complete when last seen out and he is returning from a break here so on this occasion we will take him on. Rum Pointer ran a fair race at Punchestown last time and he may well have taken third place behind Liscannor Lad had he not fallen. That was a fair effort and he could be capable of taking some place money here. Cassia Heights ran a stinker in Ireland last time so he is another that looks opposable, and for the winner we return to Colonel Frank.