18:25 Sandown

Thursday 7 June 2018

All17:5518:2519:0019:3520:0520:40

smarkets.com Young Stayers Handicap

Off time: 18:27 | Winning time: 3m 6.45s

(1)

Ghostwatch²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 82| BF

7/4

Won his maiden on reappearance at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW) in April before a one paced third on handicap debut at Chepstow (1m4½f, good). Shaped there like this step up in trip would be a good idea and still has plenty of scope off this mark.

Form: 33-13

(3)

Sharja Silk²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 82

6/1

Cost a fortune as a yearling (850,000 gns). Looked in need of the run on reappearance at Newbury before a better effort at Ascot (1m4f good to firm) last time. Handicap debut off an attractive mark and promises to stay well up in trip.

Form: 5-04

(9)

Mercer's Troop³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A Watson| OR: 81

25/1

Won on debut at Kempton (1m4f, AW) before running with credit on two subsequent starts. Starts life in handicaps off a workable mark. Likes to lead but may be vulnerable to a couple of these.

Form: 134

(7)

Mt Augustus¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Fran Berry| T: H Candy| OR: 81

6/1

Looked a bit one paced on seasonal/handicap debut at Leicester (1m4f, good to firm) last month. Shaped like this step up in trip would suit and another who is a player with scope off his current mark.

Form: 462-2

(2)

Chiave Di Volta¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: D Menuisier| OR: 80

5/1

Form on his Newbury run has worked out pretty well. Improved on that last time at Thirsk (1m4f, good to firm) when finishing strongly for a close up second. Shaped there like this extra distance will suit and another who has scope on handicap debut.

Form: 592

(6)

Jackfinbar¹²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: H Crouch| T: H J L Dunlop| OR: 78

50/1

Struck on his third start having shown promise in his first two runs (stiff task on second run) appreciating the longer trip (1m1f) switched to the AW. Failed to really progress from that run returned to the AW over the same trip; mark looks stiff.

Form: 501-4

(4)

Manor Park²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: M Harley| T: A King| OR: 76

6/1

Stepped up in trip to make a winning handicap debut at Windsor (1m3½f, good) three weeks ago. Raised 5lbs for that and this is a deeper race so further questions to answer but promises to stay well going further up in trip.

Form: 662-1

(10)

Artarmon^p1⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Spencer| T: M L W Bell| OR: 76

33/1

Still showed signs of greenness on reappearance at Lingfield. Shaped like a stayer on handicap debut in bad ground at Leicester (1m4f, heavy) on latest start. Given a short break after that and cheekpieces go on. Still has potential up in trip.

Form: 83-24

(5)

Poetic Steps¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: J F Egan| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 70

25/1

Won off a 4lb lower mark at Musselburgh (1m4f½f, good) when making all. Couldn't back that up at Catterick next time and this is even stronger. Not totally dismissed but may find one or tow of these too good.

Form: 50-7914

(8)

Highland Sky^h⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: K T O'Neill| T: D M Simcock| OR: 67| BF

20/1

Has shaped like a stamina test will suit and sent off favourite for a maiden handicap at Redcar (1m4f, good to firm) last week when staying on well in to third. Likely much more to come but this is a much deeper race.

Form: 06-03

Forecasts

Ghostwatch (7/4), Chiave Di Volta (5/1), Sharja Silk (6/1), Mt Augustus (6/1), Manor Park (6/1), Highland Sky (20/1), Poetic Steps (25/1), Mercer's Troop (25/1), Artarmon (33/1), Jackfinbar (50/1)

Artarmon has shaped like this step up in trip would suit and with cheekpieces added he rates a player. There is every chance there will be more to come in handicaps for Ghostwatch and he is a big danger but slight preference is for SHARJA SILK who looks to have potentially got in here off an attractive mark and promises to improve for this trip.