17:35 Sandown

Thursday 10 August 2017

All17:3518:1018:4519:1519:4520:20

Slug And Lettuce 2-4-1 Cocktails Amateur Riders' Handicap

Off time: 17:35 | Winning time: 2m 17.96s

(4)

Unison⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss Emma Sayer| T: J Scott| OR: 77| C| D

7/1

Useful hurdler and handles most ground, including soft/heavy, so no issue with any rain. Needs to bounce back from a poor effort at Newbury when last seen but is likely to try and make all here, so can't be allowed too much rope.

Form: 6/5118-0

(3)

Victor's Bet⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Miss Ella Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: R J Smith| OR: 71| D

25/1

Winner on both turf and all weather and pays his way, as he's shown with a couple of wins this season but soft/heavy ground may well pose a problem. May need this after a short break too and others are preferred.

Form: 721518

(7)

Canberra Cliffs²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr Simon Walker| T: D E Cantillon| OR: 79| BF| D

5/2

Has been in good form, usually goes off towards the head of the market and has won twice this season. Trip fine, slow ground would be an unknown but top amateur booked and another good run would not surprise.

Form: 131326

(1)

Road To Dubai^p1⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: Mr Patrick Millman| T: George Scott| OR: 78| D

11/4

Has been very consistent this season, in the first four on all last five outings and won twice. Handles good to soft but slower ground than that would ask a new question of him. Cheekpieces given a try today as he can hang under pressure.

Form: 513124

(2)

Dream Machine²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-4| J: Mr B James⁽⁵⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 75| D

3/1

Has been performing with great credit over 10f recently and this improving 3-y-o looks to have more to offer, but like a few here, best form to date has come on quicker ground and soft/heavy would be an unknown for him. That aside, holds every chance again here.

Form: 988-132

(5)

Top Diktat²⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Miss Becky Butler⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 66| D

14/1

On a good mark on the best of his form and at his peak, 10f on slow ground would be ideal, but it's a while since he won one and hasn't been seen out since November. Chances if ready to go as he's probably the one you can say would appreciate slower ground.

Form: 557550-

(6)

England Expects^h³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Page Fuller| T: K R Burke| OR: 58

14/1

Went close at Wetherby two starts ago but that was over a mile and on much quicker ground, so has plenty of questions to answer upped to this trip. Passed over despite good amateur booked.

Form: 564825

Forecasts

Canberra Cliffs (5/2), Road To Dubai (11/4), Dream Machine (3/1), Unison (7/1), England Expects (14/1), Top Diktat (14/1), Victor's Bet (25/1)

Soft ground would be very much an unknown for a few of these, the exceptions to that being Unison and TOP DIKTAT, and a chance is taken that the latter is ready to roll after a break as these conditions are ideal for him and he can certainly win off a low-looking mark. Canberra Cliffs is an obvious danger if she's as happy on this slower ground, with the excellent Simon Walker booked, and similar comments apply to Dream Machine. A tricky race to open the card with, then, and caution is advised.