15:55 Sandown

Friday 14 September 2018

All14:1514:5015:2515:5516:3017:0017:30

China Southern Sanya Handicap

Off time: 15:58 | Winning time: 1m 43.72s

(7)

Custom Cut¹⁰⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: J P Spencer| T: D O'Meara| OR: 95| CD

12/1

Seven-time Group winner but only won once since 2015 and now at the veteran stage. Three runs this year have been well below his best and perhaps time is catching up but does get a chance down a further 3lb and in grade.

Form: 750-464

(1)

Knife Edge²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 95| D

20/1

Started his career in Britain and won the 2016 German 2,000 Guineas before being shipped out to Hong Kong where he failed to add to his account. Needs to improve on stable debut in a valuable claiming handicap.

Form: 1/4060-9

(5)

Mordin⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Harry Bentley| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 95| D

5/2

Won his first three and second in his next three culminating in a career best at Ayr. Struggled in a valuable York handicap but return to this grade and back to a mile should suit and he probably hasn't stopped progressing.

Form: 112220

(6)

Sands Chorus¹⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: G Mosse| T: J G Given| OR: 94| D

50/1

Finished second in last year's Cambridgeshire off 2lb lower but has been miles below that level in five starts since. Needs to bounce back following an absence but can go well fresh.

Form: 2590-90

(3)

Fastar²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Charles Bishop| T: B J Meehan| OR: 87| CD

7/2

Now 4lb higher than last winning mark and wouldn't mind some rain rather than drying conditions. Could be better back at this track that he likes but others preferred.

Form: 1-46547

(9)

Majboor¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 87| D

9/2

Won three from four and only ever outside the first three once in 10 career starts. Worth this step up in grade and likely to go well again in current form.

Form: 22-1121

(2)

High Acclaim^p¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Josephine Gordon| T: R A Teal| OR: 84| D

18/1

Won this year's Spring Mile but below that in three runs since including latest following a break. Any rain would boost chances but probably needs further assistance from the handicapper.

Form: 0-81578

(8)

Michele Strogoff¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 81| D

4/1

Ran much better off this mark when second at Leicester but does like to lead and there's plenty of pace in this opposition. Drying ground would be a positive and can be competitive but stable form also a worry.

Form: 221492

(10)

De Bruyne Horse^t²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Fran Berry| T: B G Powell| OR: 85

25/1

Listed winner for Richard Hannon in a very busy juvenile campaign last term. Struggled in Meydan and on stable debut but caught the eye running on at Newbury and a chance if building on that.

Form: 87-0806

Non-Runners

(4)

Gurkha Friend⁷

Weight: 9-8| Age: 6

T: Karen McLintock J: Connor Beasley

Forecasts

Mordin (5/2), Fastar (7/2), Michele Strogoff (4/1), Majboor (9/2), Gurkha Friend (8/1), Custom Cut (12/1), High Acclaim (18/1), Knife Edge (20/1), De Bruyne Horse (25/1), Sands Chorus (50/1)

With Custom Cut, Gurkha Friend, Michele Strogoff and Majboor liking to make the pace this is likely to be a strong run race and the latter may be the best to fare having showed a game attitude and admirable consistency so far. The step up in grade and trip possibly came too soon for MORDIN and a fast run mile could play to his strengths. Likewise after a more encouraging run for his new trainer, De Bruyne Horse could have more to offer now upped in trip and is dangerously well handicapped on his smart juvenile form.