The Coral Charge, run
over 5 furlongs at Sandown, hasn’t had a habit of throwing up
big-priced winners in recent years, but soft going increases the
advantage held by runners drawn low, so we’ve identified a couple
that, granted a kindly stalls position, could go well at rewarding
odds.
Officially, Duke Of
Firenze (33/1) is one of the lowest rated runners in the field,
but seems at least as good as ever, if not better, this season and
fully deserves another crack at this level. The 7-year-old appears to
have been rejuvenated by the transfer to David Griffiths in April,
beating subsequent Wokingham Stakes runner-up Brando at York three
starts ago and running creditably in defeat when third, off revised
marks, in competitive handicaps at Epsom and Musselburgh. Obviously,
he has plenty to find on official figures, but should be suited by an
end-to-end gallop and has winning form on soft going, so shouldn’t
be inconvenienced by any rain that falls in the South East.
Stepper Point
(40/1) beat subsequent Nunthorpe Stakes winner Mecca’s Angel, on
unfavourable terms, at the Curragh last summer, but has been woefully
out of form since breaking a blood vessel at York on his next start.
The Kyllachy gelding was found to be suffering from a heart
fibrillation caused by a liver infection, which was successfully
treated, but he has clearly taken some time to regain his confidence.
It’s worth remembering that he easily won the Flying Five Stakes,
also at the Curragh, the previous season off a mark of 113, so if he
was anywhere near his peak he’d be more than a match for most of
these.
Selections:
Sandown 2.00, Duke Of Firenze (33/1 with William Hill),
Stepper Point (40/1 generally available).