April 26 / 13.50 Sandown

13.50

Good

bet365 Esher Cup Handicap

  • Prize money: £23193
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
ITV4
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bet365 Esher Cup Handicap

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.00
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 451- D

Last run: 202 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Improved with each of his three 2yo runs, taking a big step forward with his impressive Newmarket success in October (1m, good to firm); travelled well and powered clear on that occasion and the effort was backed up by the Topspeed figure; open to further progress and Ryan Moore booked.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

(1)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

15:45 York

Hand Of God

9st 8lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Harry Charlton

5yo who has raced only ten times; looked very promising in the first part of the 2024 season and things clicked again with a 2l win at Newbury (1m2f, good) two months ago; possible player after a 5lb rise.

9/1

1st

1

(3)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

14:40 Newbury

Hand Of God

9st 10lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Harry Charlton

Talented 5yo, but has endured some lengthy absences in his career and was returning from another 280 days off when seventh of 24 in the Spring Cup here (1m, good) last month; return to this trip is not a problem and he's interesting down in grade.

9/2

OUR TIP

12/1

  • Place: £3.40

Form: 137-6

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Followed his debut win at Leicester (7f, soft) with a close third at Newbury (winner now BHA-rated 108); well held behind the same rival at Chelmsford three weeks ago (tight for room over 1f out) but the handicapper has hiked him up 5lb; career best required.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

7

1st Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

15:52 Leopardstown

Blue Lemons

11st 0lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Grade 2 juvenile hurdle winner last year but has disappointed over hurdles and on the Flat since; pulled-up over 2m4f here last time but can do better back to 2m.

20/1

14th

17

(3)

20th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:40 Ascot

Blue Lemons

9st 4lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: W P Mullins

Won the first of seven Flat races for Richard Hannon, last seen in this sphere when among the backmarkers in the 1m Britannia here (33-1; sole start on good to firm) 12 months ago; very hit and miss in his four hurdle races for the champion jumps trainer, albeit in top races when he failed to fire; connections are enough to earn him respect but Ethical Diamond is presumably their principal hope.

22/1

9th

1

3rd May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

16:50 Punchestown

Blue Lemons

11st 0lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

always behind

7/1

Form: 141- C

Last run: 198 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Gained a last-gasp win over 7f here on debut last August; finished 8l behind Blue Lemons at Newbury on his second start before making a winning handicap debut at Kempton in October (1m); 4lb higher; more to come but such progress is a requirement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(1)

11th Jul 2024

Soft

1m 5f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Newmarket (July)

Royal Supremacy

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Improved for the step up in trip when second in the Italian Derby (1m3f, soft) in May, and another good run when third in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to firm; Space Legend second); there's every chance he'll continue to progress and he's respected.

13/2

3rd

9

(12)

21st Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

17:40 Ascot

Royal Supremacy

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Raised his game when second of 15 in the Italian Derby (1m3f, soft) last month and gives the impression he'll stay today's extra yardage, but he'll need to improve at least another 10lb to go one better here.

33/1

3rd

8

(8)

26th Apr 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

13:50 Sandown

Royal Supremacy

8st 10lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Gained a last-gasp win over 7f here on debut last August; finished 8l behind Blue Lemons at Newbury on his second start before making a winning handicap debut at Kempton in October (1m); 4lb higher; more to come but such progress is a requirement.

13/2

3/1

Form: 112 BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
All runs at 7f on Polytrack; ready winner of a Kempton maiden and a Lingfield novice on his first two starts before finding a well-ridden opponent too strong on his handicap debut at Kempton 30 days ago; upped 4lb for his efforts but there's more to come over 1m and he should have no problem with switching to turf; leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(4)

16th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Newbury

Cracking Gold

10st 0lb

J: David Probert

T: Clive Cox

Suited by drop back to 7f when winning at Newmarket (good to firm) and nearly followed up in 20-runner race at Glorious Goodwood (good); up another 3lb but plenty to like for trainer who won this race in 2020 and 2021.

9/2

2nd

3

(10)

30th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:55 Goodwood

Cracking Gold

9st 11lb

J: David Probert

T: Clive Cox

Suited by the drop back in distance at Newmarket (good to firm) last time, narrowly beating Great Acclaim and taking 7f record to 3-5 (only 1-8 over further); on a career-high mark but interesting kept to this trip.

11/1

1st

3

(4)

26th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:10 Newmarket (July)

Cracking Gold

9st 8lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Clive Cox

Shaped encouragingly at Chester (7.5f) on the return to turf and proved unsuited by 1m2f (raced too freely) later in May; however, now 0-5 in this sphere and peak form remains on AW where he's a three-time scorer.

16/1

8/1

Form: 1217 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Raced only on AW, winning a 6f novice at Southwell on debut before chasing home the hugely promising Notable Speech at Kempton in February; dug deep to win a Listed event at Newcastle on Good Friday but his progress stalled at Chelmsford three weeks ago; shouldn't have a problem with turf but he's conceding weight to some promising opponents.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(2)

4th Nov 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

13:50 Kempton (AW)

Cuban Tiger

9st 3lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

led, increased tempo 3f out, headed 1f out, weakened final 110yds

11/2

6

(2)

4th Nov 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

13:50 Kempton (AW)

Cuban Tiger

9st 3lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Won two of his first three starts (second to the subsequent 2000 Guineas winner in between the wins); some fair races on turf this summer and could prove well handicapped back on AW.

11/2

13th

9

(10)

14th Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 0y

17:10 Leopardstown

Cuban Tiger

9st 5lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

prominent

7/1

Non-runners

Cogitate, Rocking Tree, Nellie Leylax

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.00
Straight Forecast £11.76
Trifecta £24.70

Selections

The Times:

Hand Of God

SPOTLIGHT:

Cracking Gold

Daily Mail:

Royal Supremacy

LAMBOURN:

Cogitate

POSTDATA:

Cuban Tiger

TOPSPEED:

Nellie Leylax

RP RATINGS:

Cracking Gold

The Star:

Cracking Gold

Telegraph:

Hand Of God

The Guardian:

Hand Of God

D Express:

Hand Of God

The Sun:

Hand Of God

Daily Mirror:

Royal Supremacy

Daily Record:

Cogitate