3 minute read
Mishriff can reward those that keep the faith with victory in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
The five-year-old's odds look quite generous, even in a smart renewal, with all attention focused on the French Derby hero Vadeni.
However, John and Thady Gosden's charge has much to recommend him, if you discount his only 2022 start so far, when stone last in defence of his Saudi Cup title back in February.
Gosden senior felt the surface in Riyadh was not quite the same as the previous year, with a wide draw making it hard to grab an early pitch and a mouthful of dirt in the home straight all combining to scupper Mishriff.
It is perhaps better to judge him on last summer, when he finished third in this race on ground that was not quite ideal, before giving Adayar plenty to think about over a mile and a half in the King George and galloping his rivals into submission at York when winning the Juddmonte International by six lengths from the reopposing Alenquer.
His final spin in the Champion Stakes was a shade disappointing, but the ground again went against him there and with conditions more likely to suit this time, Mishriff can regain the winning thread.
Method is worth a shot in the Coral Charge after a satisfactory return to action at Salisbury a couple of weeks ago.
He looked like shaping into a decent sprinter at the start of last term, being beaten just over two lengths into fifth in the Sandy Lane at Haydock but he did not really kick on from that point.
With a Royal Ascot run scuppered by heavy ground, he then finished down the field in both the July Cup and the Hackwood Stakes, with his season ending prematurely in July.
Given the length of his absence, his fourth behind Benefit over six furlongs on his reappearance was a fair effort and dropping back to five furlongs here might help his chances.
Checkandchallenge was outclassed in the 2000 Guineas and is an interesting contender moved to handicap company for the Coral Challenge.
Winner of his only juvenile start, a Listed victory at Newcastle in April prompted connections to raise his sights dramatically for a Classic bid on his first try on turf and after racing a bit keenly early on, he hit a bit of trouble in running at the finish and dropped out to beat just one horse home.
Given an initial mark of 108, Checkandchallenge gets a handy three-year-old allowance here and can take full advantage.
Sea La Rosa should take a starring role at Haydock in the bet365 Lancashire Oaks.
She posted her best effort yet when winning the Pinnacle Stakes over the same 12 furlongs she faces here on her seasonal bow.
While the margin of victory was a moderate length and a quarter, Sea La Rosa seemed likely to take a step forward for the outing as she was just running out of petrol a bit towards the line, although she never looked in danger of defeat.
Fellow William Haggas inmate Holocene can make it a double for the yard in the Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Classified Stakes.
She did not appear to enjoy a move to the all-weather after making a winning turf debut at Ripon, trailing home in fourth at Kempton.
A return to 10 furlongs on turf can get her back on course.
Secret Guest hit the bar at the first attempt but can make it second time lucky in the William Hill Lengthen Your Odds EBF Maiden Stakes at Beverley.
He was a close-up third to two runners who had both the benefit of a run and a better trip through the race at Carlisle, so is expected to improve on his half-length defeat.
SELECTIONS:
BELLEWSTOWN: 4.35 Eagle Terrace, 5.05 Esperti, 5.35 Rich Belief, 6.10 Rebel Rose, 6.40 Shantou Sisu, 7.10 Eaton Lady, 7.40 Bang On Target, 8.10 Uncle Phil.
BEVERLEY: 2.18 Coco Jack, 2.53 Secret Guest, 3.28 Rambuso Creek, 4.05 Golden Melody, 4.40 Under Fox, 5.15 Miss Clementine, 5.45 Panama City.
CARLISLE: 5.50 Somewhere Secret, 6.20 Braveheart Boy, 6.50 Jungle Bee, 7.20 Marwari, 7.50 Millie The Minx, 8.20 Jilly Cooper, 8.50 Rechercher.
HAYDOCK: 1.35 Gannon Glory, 2.05 Valsad, 2.40 SEA LA ROSA (NAP), 3.15 Inchicore, 3.50 Sunny Orange, 4.25 Woven, 4.55 Zero Carbon.
LEICESTER: 2.45 Thunder Flash, 3.20 Duchray, 3.55 Sweet Glance, 4.30 Mr Zee, 5.00 Wild Lion, 5.30 Dukedom, 6.05 Selfish Brian.
NAAS: 1.25 She's Local, 2.00 Victoria Road, 2.33 Latin Fury, 3.08 Teddy Boy, 3.43 Belle Fourche, 4.18 Dubawi Spectre, 4.50 Corporal Violette, 5.25 Heather Bear.
NOTTINGHAM: 6.00 Sameem, 6.30 Sixties Chic, 7.00 Bibulous, 7.30 Tribuna Uffizi, 8.00 Holocene, 8.30 At Liberty.
SANDOWN: 1.50 Method, 2.25 Checkandchallenge, 3.00 Heredia, 3.35 Mishriff, 4.10 Chairman, 4.45 Land Of Eagles, 5.20 Just Glamorous.
DOUBLE: Sea La Rosa and Mishriff.
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