17:35 Sandown

Saturday 16 June 2018

All14:0514:3515:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Randox Food Handicap

Off time: 17:36 | Winning time: 3m 11.07s

(3)

Bear Valley^t1⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 82| D

20/1

AW winner in March for Charlie Mann, gone backwards in three runs since, latest at Hamilton being particularly poor. Starts out for new yard with tongue tie added and needing to bounce back.

Form: 78-2158

(12)

Gang Warfare^p,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Rossa Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 82| D

50/1

Sole win on turf came back in 2015 but is racing off a competitive mark after returning from hurdling. Latest effort at Salisbury didn't offer much encouragement. Cheekpieces back on now.

Form: 50-7758

(1)

Dark Pearl²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: P Cosgrave| T: E Walker| OR: 81

6/4

Won a Chepstow maiden last season and twice ran with credit in handicap company. Lightly-raced, he shaped well enough at Chepstow last month on return having been gelded and may improve on that.

Form: 32137-5

(11)

Against The Odds²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Fran Berry| T: Tom Clover| OR: 80

5/1

Not without support in betting on debut for this trainer at Lingfield (1m3½f, good) last month and shaped well enough having been off over a year. Longer trip to suit, may build on that showing.

Form: 320/83-4

(2)

Vis A Vis²³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S W Kelly| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 80| D

20/1

Useful maiden winner in France last term over similar trip and worth a check in the market on handicap/yard debut here.

Form: 332155-

(7)

Jacob Cats^v²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: A Kirby| T: W J Knight| OR: 79| C

25/1

Twice won on the AW last year, not been looking anything like as good in recent effort and needs a big step back in the right direction now with a visor tried again.

Form: 36-7606

(8)

Hawridge Flyer¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J F Egan| T: B R Millman| OR: 78| BF

4/1

Lightly-raced and consistent sort, placed five times (along with a win) in eight starts. Strong effort last time at Goodwood (1m4f, soft), concerns however on firm surface and over stamina.

Form: 318-352

(6)

Precision²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 78| CD

5/1

Progressive last summer, but was off the track for quite a long time before finishing down the field in outings at Salisbury and Chester this spring. Eased in class now, but big turnaround required nonetheless.

Form: 7314-70

(4)

Splash Around^p1⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: M Appleby| OR: 78

33/1

Consistent maiden in six-race career for Sir Michael Stoute, without looking progressive. Showed very little on debut for this trainer at Haydock (1m2½f, soft) on debut for this trainer after 310-day layoff. Cheekpieces tried now.

Form: 4/3234-9

(9)

Musikel¹⁸⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: K Shoemark| T: C Gordon| OR: 70

66/1

Frankel gelding, won an AW maiden at Newcastle last year, though didn't make much progress on turf thereafter. Tailed off at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) in December on debut for this trainer, off since.

Form: 103360-

(5)

Ardamir^p1¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Callum Shepherd| T: Mrs L J Mongan| OR: 68

25/1

Twice a winner over jumps but still a maiden on the Flat after 23 starts. Well beaten last three attempts and remains hard to be enthusiastic about now.

Form: 333946

Non-Runners

(10)

Sir Pass I Am³⁶

Weight: 8-6| Age: 5

T: A M Balding J: David Probert

Forecasts

Dark Pearl (6/4), Hawridge Flyer (4/1), Precision (5/1), Against The Odds (5/1), Sir Pass I Am (14/1), Vis A Vis (20/1), Bear Valley (20/1), Jacob Cats (25/1), Ardamir (25/1), Splash Around (33/1), Gang Warfare (50/1), Musikel (66/1)

DARK PEARL may be the answer in what isn't a thrilling finale. He's lightly-raced and shaped quite well from a wide draw at Chepstow on his first start after being gelded. This track should suit, he is fitter now and the longer trip looks a plus. Against The Odds was supported in the betting on stable bow at Lingfield and is worth monitoring again over what should also be a more suitable trip for him. French import Vis A Vis, dual AW winner Jacob Cats and Hawridge Flyer are worthy of closer inspection.