Racecards
20:05 Sandown Park
Smarkets British EBF 'Confined' Novice Stakes (Class 5)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 1m 1f 209y
- Going: Good (Good to Firm in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £7,000 added
- Winner: £4,528
- 2nd: £1,348
- 3rd: £673
- 4th: £337
Cross Counter
136- Form 1-1
- Age 3
- Weight 10-1
tracked leaders in 5th, went 2nd approaching final furlong, stayed on inside final furlong, no chance with winner
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer L M Cumani
- Jockey J P Spencer
mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, weakened soon after
- Form 3-1
- Age 3
- Weight 9-8
- Trainer W J Haggas
- Jockey James Doyle
raced keenly, tracked leader 4f, handy, 2nd again 2f out, until just over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer R M Beckett
- Jockey S M Levey
slowly away, towards rear, some late minor headway, never on terms
- Form 24-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer Owen Burrows
- Jockey Jim Crowley
headway to track leader 6f out, led going well inside final 3f, clear over 1f out, stayed on well
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey K T O'Neill
slowly into stride, last pair, kept on final furlong
- Form 8-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer H & R Charlton
- Jockey K Shoemark
tracked leaders on inside, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
Persian Sun
45- Form 4
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer S & E Crisford
- Jockey Andrea Atzeni
mid-division, headway over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer J R Fanshawe
- Jockey T P Queally
unruly start, towards rear, headway 2f out, switched left and kept on inside final furlong, never nearer
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey N Mackay
towards rear, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never nearer
Trinitas
9- Form 89
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer H Morrison
- Jockey J P Fahy
led until pushed along inside final 3f, lost 2nd 2f out, weakened soon after
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Trainer R M Beckett
- Jockey Harry Bentley
mid-division, headway on outside 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, stayed on in 3rd final furlong
In depth
Verdict
CROSS COUNTER remains unbeaten after scoring by eight lengths on the all-weather and is entered in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Ascot at the end of this month. Rated 98, he should stay this extra distance and defy a double penalty. Al Muffrih won over today’s trip at Newbury on his reappearance while Harbour Breeze was placed in a Newmarket maiden behind a subsequent handicap winner. Elwazir and Howman look likely improvers and John Gosden runs a couple of newcomers with Star Of Bengal, a half-bother to a French Oaks winner, preferred to Marechal Ney.
Formwatch
Cross Counter 4-9fav (9-9) Tracked leader, led 2f out, quickened clear over 1f out and still green, pushed out, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (5) pol in Jan beating Natch (9-2) by 8l, 6 ran.
Cortado Pivotal colt out of Contredanse.
Kings Inn (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 1f out, never able to challenge, 3rd of 14, 10 1/2l behind Almoghared (8-11) at Chepstow 1m 4f stks (5) gf in May.
Al Muffrih (IRE) 10-11fav (9-5) Made all, ridden and pressed inside final furlong, found extra near finish, won at Newbury 1m 2f mdn stks (4) gf in May beating Mini P (9-5) by nk, 16 ran.
Cosmic Landscape Lawman colt out of Dancingintheclouds.
Dazzling Rock (IRE) Rock Of Gibraltar colt out of Dazzling Light.
Elwazir 4-7fav (9-0) Prominent, led 3f out, ridden over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 2 1/4l behind Key Victory (9-0) at Newmarket 7f stks (4) gf in Oct.
Marechal Ney Frankel colt out of Hidden Hope.
Perpetrator (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, pushed along over 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, soon well held, 8th of 14, 15l behind Occupy (9-2) at Kempton 1m stks (5) pol in Nov.
Persian Sun 12-1 (9-2) In touch, pushed along 4f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 4th of 14, 10 1/4l behind Rock Eagle (9-2) at Windsor 1m 2f stks (5) gd in Apr.
Scaramanga (IRE) Mastercraftsman colt out of Herboriste.
Star Of Bengal Oasis Dream colt out of Stage Presence.
Trinitas 25-1 (9-0) Prominent racing keenly, steadied a little after 2f, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, 18 3/4l behind Wissahickon (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (5) pol in May.
Thimbleweed Teofilo filly out of Prairie Flower.
Carnwennan (IRE) Cacique gelding out of Slieve.
Harbour Breeze (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Keen tracked winner, ridden and pressed winner over 2f out, one pace and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 12, 2l behind Burgonet (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2f mdn stks (4) gf in May.
Howman (IRE) 11-2 (9-5) Slowly into stride, headway on outer to track leaders after 1f, ridden to chase winner 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 10, 6 3/4l behind Chief Ironside (9-5) at Chester 1m 2f mdn stks (3) gd in May.