20:40 Sandown

Thursday 25 May 2017

All18:0018:3019:0519:3520:1020:40

Matchbook Betting Podcast Whitsun Cup Handicap

Off time: 20:41 | Winning time: 1m 42.57s

(11)

Secret Art²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: M Dwyer| T: W J Knight| OR: 95| CD

16/1

Won well at Windsor last time where he clearly came on for his reappearance run at Newmarket in April. Tends to struggle off this mark though and generally prefers a little more dig in the ground than what he is likely to get here.

Form: 1500-01

(4)

Sir Roderic³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: B R Millman| OR: 93| CD

9/1

Rattled off an excellent hat-trick last summer between 7f and an extended 1m on good ground or easier. Found it tougher going off higher marks on his more recent efforts though and may need the handicapper to relent a little before he becomes of interest again.

Form: 1290-00

(3)

Laidback Romeo²⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 92| CD

8/1

On the improve towards the end of last season, including a C&D win here in July but not seen since winning at Windsor and has needed his previous two returns from a break. May be best watched this time.

Form: 24/7211-

(12)

Greenside²⁰⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: H Candy| OR: 91| D

6/1

Three wins from six starts but has had a largely interrupted career to date and he's entitled to need this run on return from an absence.

Form: 7118/41-

(8)

Alejandro²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Josephine Gordon| T: D Loughnane| OR: 90| D

16/1

Got back on track this season having not won since 2014 with a win at Kempton in February, when he held on gamely and then similar story again last time out at Beverley. Still on a fair mark if he can build on that now and ground likely to dry out enough for him to be seen to something like his best.

Form: 813771

(5)

Mountain Rescue³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Harry Bentley| T: C F Wall| OR: 89| D

17/2

Entitled to come on for his recent effort at Newbury and was running well towards the end of last season. If he can recapture that form, this official mark isn't beyond him. Trainer's runners been going okay without hitting top form yet this season.

Form: 44612-0

(2)

Midhmaar⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 89| D

11/2

Only success to date came in a three-runner affair at Salisbury on fast ground. Did run well here on a couple of starts last season and his comeback run wasn't devoid of promise. Interesting player.

Form: 2/2280-4

(7)

Makzeem^p1²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 88| BF

5/1

Half-brother to Al Kazeem so may improve as he gets older. He's probably better than this official mark but he has been a beaten favourite on each of his last three appearances; needs the cheekpieces to seek out a little improvement.

Form: 22102-2

(10)

Timeless Art³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: C Lee⁽⁵⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 85| D

11/2

Both of his wins have come over the mile but finished a good third at the Lincoln meeting over 7f on his comeback run. Couldn't back that up last time though and others possibly a little better handicapped.

Form: 6151-37

(6)

Munaashid²⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: S De Sousa| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 84

10/1

Sole win came in a maiden at Roscommon and very poor on his latest start on the other side of the Irish Sea when he finished last. Possible the switch of yard will freshen him up and the return to faster ground could see him in a better light. This jockey did ride a winner in these colours at the weekend, for all he looks the second-string.

Form: 3/13490-

(13)

Cricklewood Green¹³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Mitch Godwin⁽⁵⁾| T: S Kirk| OR: 82| D

66/1

Has to return to turf on a higher mark than what he's been racing off on the AW this winter. Tends to struggle from this sort of mark but can't be discounted if he gets a fair pace to aim at.

Form: 20420-8

(1)

Forceful Appeal²²

Age: 9| Weight: 8-8| J: Edward Greatrex⁽³⁾| T: S Dow| OR: 82| D

25/1

In search of a hat-trick here having won on All-Weather Championships Finals Day before going on to take advantage of his lower turf mark at Ascot last time. Will give his all once again but may find it a little tougher off a 6lb higher mark.

Form: 752611

Non-Runners

(14)

El Vip²⁶

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: L M Cumani J: Non Runner

(9)

Kingston Kurrajong²⁴

Weight: 8-9| Age: 4

T: M J Attwater J: Adam Beschizza

Forecasts

Makzeem (5/1), Midhmaar (11/2), Timeless Art (11/2), Greenside (6/1), El Vip (6/1), Laidback Romeo (8/1), Mountain Rescue (17/2), Sir Roderic (9/1), Munaashid (10/1), Alejandro (16/1), Secret Art (16/1), Forceful Appeal (25/1), Kingston Kurrajong (25/1), Cricklewood Green (66/1)

MIDHMAAR has been largely disappointing but his comeback run at Nottingham was full of promise and Jim Crowley prefers his chance over Munaashid who has his first start for a new yard. Makzeem is another who hasn't fulfilled his potential yet but there's likely to be more to come from the half-brother of Al Kazeem. Forceful Appeal is a game sort who should run his race and Alejandro should get his optimum conditions.