De Sousa and Al Saham strongly fancied for Coral.co.uk Handicap

Al Saham briefly looked in trouble at Haydock last time when he was hampered approaching the final furlong but got up in the dying strides to win nicely. Silvestre De Sousa rode him that day and this long striding son of Authorized looks capable of defying a 5lb penalty.

Saeed Bin Suroor has elected to run the gelding here rather than contest the Old Newton Cup. He is still relatively inexperienced and is expected to take this on the way to better things.

His main danger could be the bottom weight Mushaakis from Mark Johnston’s in-form stable. The three-year-old son of Shamardal bolted up by eight lengths at Musselburgh but could only manage third in better company at Newmarket last time.

It may be that the race came too quickly and he would be an obvious threat if returning to the same form that he showed at the Scottish track. Henry Candy had high hopes for Code Of Honor at the start of the season but he has so far failed to deliver.

The fast ground may have been his undoing at Haydock last time and he was not punished once his chance had gone. There had been significant market support for him that day and it is too early to write him off.

Cashpoint won over course and distance last time, landing some nice bets in the process. William Buick gets on well with the eight-year-old who has gone up 6lbs in the handicap for that recent success.

Pilgrim’s Rest ran no sort of race at Epsom last time but had previously run well at Goodwood. He also has form on the course having run a close second to Quixote last September.

Andrew Balding’s Benzanno was a fair fifth at Epsom but the handicapper seems to have his measure at the moment. Similarly, the top weight Jake’s Destiny seems to have plenty on his plate under 10 stone and a bigger threat may be Tight Lipped.

The four-year-old raced a little too keenly here last time but still held on for second behind Clowance Estate. He had previously won over course and distance and is likely to be up front forcing the pace.