July 07 / 15.05 Sandown

15.05

Good To Soft

Coral Marathon (Listed Race) (Registered As The Esher Stakes)

  • Prize money: £28355
  • 2m 0f 50y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Coral Marathon (Listed Race) (Registered As The Esher Stakes)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

1/2 (Won)

  • Win: £1.34
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 231-46 C

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Best on good or firmer; 2021 victories included the Breeders' Cup Turf but there were mixed messages (he looked less than straightforward) in his abbreviated 2022 campaign; 317 days off before below form in his two starts this term but the latest was the 2m4f Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (7f further than he'd gone before) and he showed enough, passing some fading rivals, to suggest he is still very much the one to beat over 2m at this much lower level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

(4)

7th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

15:05 Sandown

Yibir

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Best on good or firmer; 2021 victories included the Breeders' Cup Turf but there were mixed messages (he looked less than straightforward) in his abbreviated 2022 campaign; 317 days off before below form in his two starts this term but the latest was the 2m4f Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (7f further than he'd gone before) and he showed enough, passing some fading rivals, to suggest he is still very much the one to beat over 2m at this much lower level.

1/2

6th

10

(6)

22nd Jun 2023

Good

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Yibir

9st 4lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Best on good or firmer; 2021 victories included Breeders' Cup Turf but there were mixed messages (he looked less than straightforward) in his abbreviated 2022 campaign; had clearly the best form going into Newbury Group 3 last month when he came only fourth, admittedly after 317 days off; usually stays on well and his dam won at up to 2m, but it's hard to be confident that this test (7f further than he's gone before) will see him back in the best light.

11/1

4th

6

(5)

20th May 2023

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Newbury

Yibir

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

2021 victories included the Breeders' Cup Turf; while he looked less than straightforward in 2022, two of his placed efforts (Meydan and Belmont Park) last spring were among his best form and he ended that campaign with a Group 2 win over 1m4f at Newmarket in July; not one to trust implicitly but he again brings clearly the best form.

5/4

12/1

  • Place: £4.10

Form: /67-10

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Broke more alertly to make all on stable debut at Ripon (1m4f, soft) in April when returning from an absence and wind surgery; never seriously involved, though, when 33-1 at Royal Ascot (1m6f, good; unraced on firmer) 17 days ago; appeared to stay 1m6f when fourth at Goodwood in 2021 but this is his first go at 2m and he steps out of handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

30th Aug 2023

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

16:40 Uttoxeter

Aaddeey

11st 0lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Archie Watson

raced in second, not fluent 6th, challenging when not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, led run-in, edged left but stayed on towards finish

8/11

2nd

1

(2)

7th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

15:05 Sandown

Aaddeey

9st 2lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

Broke more alertly to make all on stable debut at Ripon (1m4f, soft) in April when returning from an absence and wind surgery; never seriously involved, though, when 33-1 at Royal Ascot (1m6f, good; unraced on firmer) 17 days ago; appeared to stay 1m6f when fourth at Goodwood in 2021 but this is his first go at 2m and he steps out of handicaps.

12/1

12th

6

(6)

20th Jun 2023

Good

1m 6f 34y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Aaddeey

9st 10lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

Broke more alertly to make all on stable debut at Ripon (1m4f, soft) in April, when returning from an absence and wind surgery; enjoyed the run of the race and this is much hotter, but it remains to be seen how far he can go for this yard; has won on good ground, unraced on faster.

16/1

5/1

Form: /2223/ BF

Last run: 771 days

W: 9st 2lb

7 yo Horse

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Smart form in April 2021 when runner-up in a 1m6f Listed race and 2m Ascot Group 3; below form over this C&D that May and not seen since; blinkered (no headgear previously) for this reappearance and trainer believes he will be come on from the run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

4

(28)

14th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 2f 0y

Class 2

14:40 Newmarket

Ocean Wind

9st 9lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Roger Teal

Probably no ground worries; C&D Trial winner in 2020; over two years off before this season and his smart form of 2021 has not been recaptured, with reappearance offering plenty of hope but well beaten since in the Goodwood Cup, Ebor and a good Salisbury conditions stakes; needs a big revival.

40/1

3rd

2

15th Sep 2023

Good To Firm

1m 6f 44y

Class 2

18:40 Salisbury

Ocean Wind

9st 7lb

J: Frederick Larson

T: Roger Teal

Smart stayer in 2021 and he returned from a massive absence with a creditable third in a Listed race at Sandown (2m, good) in July; had tough task in the Goodwood Cup next time but he finished tailed off and it was a similar story in the Ebor three weeks ago; has some questions to answer and he needs a major upturn in form.

4/1

18th

7

(19)

26th Aug 2023

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 2

15:35 York

Ocean Wind

9st 8lb

J: Frederick Larson

T: Roger Teal

Well handicapped judged on peak effort but that came when smart stayer in April 2021; absent more than two years before creditable third of six in Listed race at Sandown (2m) this July, followed by a heavy defeat in the Goodwood Cup but that was a stiff task (66-1); the blinkers worn this season are replaced by a visor.

33/1

Form: 10-653 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 9st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Kept away from ground softer than good; missed most of 2022 but back near his best when third of five in Group 3 over C&D (good) six weeks ago; combination of recent form and proven stamina gives him a fair chance of taking second behind the clear form choice Yibir, if the ground is okay.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

3

(9)

20th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Sleeping Lion

9st 1lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Harry Charlton

Solid efforts at Kempton (2m, AW) in his two outings this season, off 105 days since; seen less often on turf in recent campaigns, but his two minor honours on turf at Sandown last summer also give him a chance if the ground (he's steered clear of softer than good) is suitable.

10/1

2nd

4

(3)

6th Apr 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 2

15:15 Kempton (AW)

Sleeping Lion

9st 12lb

J: David Probert

T: Harry Charlton

Won this race in 2021 and fifth of six (raced freely) in 2023; it's more than two years since he last won (also C&D) and he's now a 9yo but his C&D third two months ago showed again that he should not be far away.

12/1

OUR TIP

14/1

Form: 04-730 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 2lb

8 yo Horse

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Satisfactory third in handicap at Newmarket (1m4f) in May after a four-month break, but no show from a wide draw at Royal Ascot (1m6f) latest; still capable of smart form last year but very rarely seen over this far (second in 2m Ascot Group 3 in 2019) and looks set for a supporting role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

1

25th Jan 2024

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 4

14:35 Huntingdon

Raymond Tusk

12st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Still well short of replicating his smart Flat best over hurdles when fourth on December 2022's handicap debut, but finally gets to try further than 2m in this sphere now and has been gelded; won't mind a dryout.

5/1

5th

4

(1)

7th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

15:05 Sandown

Raymond Tusk

9st 2lb

J: James Doyle

T: Alan King

Satisfactory third in handicap at Newmarket (1m4f) in May after a four-month break, but no show from a wide draw at Royal Ascot (1m6f) latest; still capable of smart form last year but very rarely seen over this far (second in 2m Ascot Group 3 in 2019) and looks set for a supporting role.

14/1

Form: 2-5

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up over 1m4f in Germany last April and useful form when fifth of nine in the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot (2m5f, good to firm; 40-1) 13 days ago; bumper/hurdle winner (fair form) in between; looks up against it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:11 Worcester

Estacas

11st 9lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Well handicapped on old form for David Bridgwater but he returned for new yard after a mammoth absence with a well-held eighth at Stratford (2m2f, good) last month; shaped as though he needed that run but this looks a tough assignment against some improvers and he's probably best watched; cheekpieces (tried once in 2023) are reapplied.

20/1

8th

11

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

16:18 Stratford

Estacas

11st 10lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Well handicapped on old form for David Bridgwater but absent since two disappointing runs in November 2023; considered only if lively in the betting before this stable debut; had wind op in 2024.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.70
Straight Forecast £5.59
Trifecta £13.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Yibir

LAMBOURN:

Ocean Wind

Daily Mirror:

Aaddeey

The Star:

Sleeping Lion

RP RATINGS:

Yibir

TOPSPEED:

Yibir

POSTDATA:

Yibir

NEWMARKET:

Yibir

The Times:

Yibir

Telegraph:

Yibir

The Guardian:

Yibir

D Express:

Yibir

The Sun:

Yibir

Daily Record:

Yibir

Daily Mail:

Ocean Wind