16:15 Sandown

Friday 15 September 2017

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:45

Directorship Handicap

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 1m 42.99s

(3)

Grand Inquisitor^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Fran Berry| T: Ian Williams| OR: 80| C| D

4/1

Dual winner for Sir Michael Stoute and gradually improving for this yard, finishing a close up third behind Al Nafoorah over C&D (good) last time. Same mark here, so every chance he'll be thereabouts once again.

Form: 906933

(11)

Sir Plato¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: William Carson| T: B R Millman| OR: 82| D

20/1

A revelation this season, winning five times, though all four of his turf victories have come at Windsor. The handicapper has obviously had his say, though his lacklustre effort at Epsom last time may not have been weight-related.

Form: 611517

(4)

Ready⁸⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Danny Brock| T: M Pattinson| OR: 75| D

33/1

Was in decent form in handicaps and claimers for Ivan Furtado last season, though a switch in yard saw him regress this year. Reappears for another new yard here after 75 days off, so best watched unless the market suggests otherwise.

Form: 09-6869

(12)

Top Beak^t¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Rob Hornby| T: M J Attwater| OR: 75| D

33/1

Won a soft ground Windsor maiden for Hughie Morrison two years ago but never scored again for the yard in 12 subsequent starts. Little impact in two runs for this yard so far but handicap mark is now starting to plummet.

Form: 079360

(13)

Blaze Of Hearts²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Ted Durcan| T: D K Ivory| OR: 75

16/1

Plenty of promise but largely frustrating until finally finding the winning formula over 1m1f (good to firm) at Yarmouth last time out. Remains reasonably-treated after a 3lb rise but drop in trip and awkward draw not ideal.

Form: 33-5661

(7)

Badenscoth^h¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Jack Duern⁽³⁾| T: D K Ivory| OR: 79| D

12/1

Successful twice on the AW, most recently under this rider at Chelmsford in July. Two respectable efforts since without looking like adding to his tally and probably not the stable's number one hope here.

Form: 772136

(2)

Directorship¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 9-4| J: H Crouch⁽³⁾| T: P R Chamings| OR: 74| CD

12/1

Veteran campaigner who numbers a couple of C&D victories among his seven career wins but it's over two years since he last had his head in front. For all that he was only 2¾ adrift of Al Nafoorah over C&D last time.

Form: 220506

(9)

Fastar²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Charles Bishop| T: B J Meehan| OR: 78| D

7/1

Had already shown promise in maiden and minor events before opening his account on his handicap debut over 1m at Windsor (good) in July. Not disgraced twice since from a revised mark but yard has just gone a little quiet.

Form: 4-35126

(14)

Call Me Grumpy²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: David Egan⁽³⁾| T: R Varian| OR: 78| BF| C

10/3

Ordinary juvenile maiden form but won well on his handicap debut over 7f here (good to firm) on his return. A beaten favourite three times since, however, though remains feasibly-treated if stamina holds out on first attempt at 1m.

Form: 64-1242

(6)

Derek Duval^t²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: B A Curtis| T: S C Williams| OR: 78

7/1

A winner at Newmarket over 7f (good to firm) in June but has found life tougher from a revised mark since, finishing last of seven on first attempt at 1m last time. Stamina queries remain.

Form: 381257

(10)

Ogbourne Downs²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Patrick Pilley⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 73| CD

33/1

Won six times for Charlie Hills in his younger days, including off much higher marks than this. Missed the whole of last year and slightly underwhelming since joining this jumps-orientated yard, including over hurdles the last twice.

Form: 6505/44

(8)

Sea Shack³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: M Dwyer| T: W J Knight| OR: 75

7/1

A winner at Goodwood (7f, good to soft) on his handicap debut a year ago but hasn't progressed as looked likely. Better effort on first run since being gelded at Kempton last time but stamina to prove over this extra furlong.

Form: 226664

(5)

Music Major¹⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Kieren Fox| T: M J Attwater| OR: 69| D

66/1

A four-time winner on the AW between 7f and 1m2f, though never from a mark this high. Unplaced on only previous turf run at Brighton a year ago and probably best watched after five months on the sidelines.

Form: 236-156

(15)

Miss Pacific³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: S W Kelly| T: W Jarvis| OR: 70| BF

12/1

Flashes of promise in maidens and only just touched off on her handicap debut over 1m at Newmarket (good to soft). Not far away at Yarmouth next time either and capable of getting involved here with further improvement likely.

Form: 75523

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to board prices only - deduction 10p in the pound

Non-Runners

(1)

Palmerston²⁰

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: M Appleby J: Gabriele Malune

Forecasts

Call Me Grumpy (10/3), Grand Inquisitor (4/1), Fastar (7/1), Sea Shack (7/1), Derek Duval (7/1), Palmerston (10/1), Badenscoth (12/1), Directorship (12/1), Miss Pacific (12/1), Blaze Of Hearts (16/1), Sir Plato (20/1), Ogbourne Downs (33/1), Top Beak (33/1), Ready (33/1), Music Major (66/1)

Competitive stuff but probably no tougher than the C&D handicap GRAND INQUISITOR finished a close-up third in last time out from the same mark. Given that he has a more favourable draw now, it would be no surprise to see him regain the winning thread. Call Me Grumpy has proved expensive to follow since landing a gamble on his reappearance but would be a threat if his stamina holds out over this trip, whilst similar sentiments apply to Sea Shack. Of the rest, Miss Pacific remains with potential, though her draw is not ideal.