Via Serendipity scored in fine style last time out and looks decent value at 13/2 with William Hill to follow-up in the 1m Coral Challenge at Sandown on Saturday (14:25).
That win came at Chelmsford where the Stuart Williams trained five-year-old put two low key efforts behind him to make all and win unchallenged by five lengths from Masham Star off a mark of 95.
The son off Invincible Spirit is able to race in this off just 2lb higher and has a good record at the Esher venue.
After scoring over course and distance 13 months ago, Via Serendipity ran very well in this when encountering traffic problems and finishing a never nearer 2 3/4 lengths third of 15 to Tigre du Terre.
He backed that up with a fine close-up fourth of 27 to Burnt Sugar in the valuable and highly-competitive International Stakes at Ascot off 94, before landing a 10-runner contest on Shergar Cup day there off 95.
The form of those races is very strong and read well in relation to this, suggesting that Via Serendipity is fairly treated off his current rating of 97.
He also has a tremendous strike rate of 40 per cent over the trip having won four times and been placed twice in 10 starts over it.
The way in which Via Serendipity has been campaigned by his shrewd handler suggests that this has been his first big target. Crack Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy taking the ride also catches the eye.
So, with underfoot conditions also ideal, Via Serendipity looks have lots going for him and the one to be on in the Coral Challenge at the odds on offer.
Greenside looks sure to go well
Greenside runs the venue well and comes into the race in form, so is feared most in a race where it’s hard to rule out the chances of any of the 14 runners.
This Henry Candy trained eight-year-old was an unlucky loser in the Whitsun Cup here two years ago when getting badly hampered at the start, before flying home late to go down by a length to Laidback Romeo.
He then gained revenge on that rival next time up over course and distance when running on strongly to score by 1 1/4 lengths off a mark of 94.
Greenside looked as good as ever on his second start this season at Windsor when coming from off the pace and showing a smart turn of foot to shoot clear in the last 150 yards and win going away by 1 3/4 lengths
The son of Dubawi backed that up with a fast finishing third at Epsom where he seemed unsuited by the undulations of the Surrey venue.
He ran better than the finishing result suggests last time back over course and distance when a four-length fourth of 12 to History Writer.
Greenside didn’t get the clearest of passages and was forced to make a move out wide, before sticking to the task well to be nearest at the finish.
It was a solid effort given how the race panned out, and he now meets the winner in the Coral Challenge on 7lb better terms. That may well be enough to see Greenside gain his revenge.
Granted better luck in-running, he looks sure to be bang in there at the business end of affairs – so at a standout 8/1 with Betfred makes plenty of each-way appeal.
Production fancied for Moore success
Production impressed when winning last time out, so now partnered by Ryan Moore for the first time, looks worth siding with at 8/1 with Paddy Power to defy a rise in the weights and land the spoils in the 1m 2f handicap that closes the card (17:20).
This Richard Hannon trained three-year-old bagged a belated first handicap success at Redcar 15 days ago when beating Highwaygray by 1 3/4 lengths.
Having previously raced over no further than a mile, the son of Oasis Dream relished the step up in trip to 10 furlongs for the first time.
After tracking the leader travelling strongly, Production forged clear at the furlong marker and stayed on strongly to win easing down.
He was value for much more than the winning margin and the runner-up, to whom he was conceding 7lb, went into the race in fine form having won and been placed three times in his four previous outings.
It makes a 5lb rise in the weights look lenient. A revised rating of 81 for Production is still 4lb below the initial handicap mark he was allotted.
Production also remains unexposed over the trip and has winning form on the forecast fast ground.
Moore also does well when teaming up with the yard, so his booking suggest connections mean business and a bold bid to follow-up looks assured.
