Coral Racing Ambassador, Jim Crowley, previews his two rides at Sandown on Friday for their opening flat card of the season, including the promising three-year-old War Rooms for Charlie Hills in the Group 3 Classic Trial.

14:25 Sandown – Israr

I’m delighted that Israr remains in training as a five-year-old, as he’s a bit of a favourite now, with his biggest win to date coming at Newmarket last summer [Princess Of Wales’s Stakes].

He ran well to finish second in Bahrain on his final ride last year, but in Qatar in February he just didn’t run any sort of race, so I’m happy to put a line through that, he just didn’t fire at all.

He’s not run here before, but I’m sure Sandown will suit him, he’s versatile in terms of trip and going, so a mile and a quarter on good ground poses no problems. This is a competitive Group 3, but he’s proven at a higher level than this, so I’d be hopeful he can run a big race and set himself up for another productive campaign. 

15:35 Sandown – War Rooms 

I rode this horse on his debut, when he was a good winner at Doncaster, and he followed that up when finishing third in a Listed contest at the same track. Both those runs were over seven furlongs, and I think he’ll really enjoy this step up in trip, certainly his breeding says he will too.

He gave me a lovely feel on that first run, and I’m not surprised he has the Derby entry. I know Owen [Burrows] rates him that highly, and so do I, I think a lot of him, and based on his recent homework as well, I think Epsom could be a realistic aim.

This is a Classic trial, and the Godolphin colt [Arabian Crown] is a leading Derby contender according to the odds, so we’ll find out plenty here.  He’s done everything well at home leading up to this, and I do think he’s a horse who could have a big season.

Jim Crowley, Coral Racing Ambassador