18:00 Sandown

Thursday 23 May 2019

All18:0018:3519:0519:3520:1020:40

Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap

Off time: 18:06 | Winning time: 2m 8.41s

(5)

Uther Pendragon^p⁸^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: J P Spencer| T: J S Moore| OR: 71| D

10/1

Notched a second career win (from 30 starts) when keeping on for pressure to account for Amaretto by ½L at Bath (1m2f, firm) last week; turned out under a 6lb penalty in a marginally more competitive race.

Form: 45-9941

(6)

My Boy Sepoy²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: S C Williams| OR: 75| D

5/1

Both of his wins have come on firm ground at Bath (1m-1m2f); 3lb higher than when beating Mystic Meg by 1L last September, he shaped with promise on his return to action at Lingfield (fourth) three weeks ago; stable/jockey in form.

Form: 12461-4

(3)

Sudona²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J Mitchell| T: H Palmer| OR: 74| BF| D

7/1

Now rated 9lb higher than when winning a late season 1m2f Class 6 Yarmouth handicap (good to firm) by 1¾L; beaten favourite on her seasonal reappearance - finishing third, narrowly in front of today's rival My Boy Sepoy.

Form: 45941-3

(10)

Matewan^p²⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: Ian Williams| OR: 72| D

4/1

Has stepped forward markedly since upped in trip and introduced to handicapping; seeks an elongated hat-trick following late season wins at Newmarket (1m2f) and Beverley (1m4f); 4lb higher on seasonal reappearance, but with Ryan Moore in the saddle.

Form: 70/3211-

(7)

Jumping Jack¹⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Charles Bishop| T: C Gordon| OR: 72

9/1

Broke a fairly lengthy losing sequence when winning a three-runner affair over hurdles at Plumpton (2m, good to firm) last October; off the track since finishing a keeping on third to Given Choice over this trip at Chelmsford in December.

Form: 746243-

(1)

Ruby Gates⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: E J Walsh| T: J Butler| OR: 72

50/1

An eight-race turf maiden - her last start on grass came at Nottingham a year ago; winner over an extended mile at Wolverhampton in November, but now appears to be plenty high enough in the weights.

Form: 1282-66

(2)

Bayston Hill⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Gary Mahon⁽³⁾| T: M D I Usher| OR: 71| D

16/1

Equally effective on turf and synthetics, yet has been plying his trade on the AW with a degree of success recently; 3lb higher than when beating Gas Monkey by a neck at Chelmsford (1m2f) 52 days ago.

Form: 93-4831

(11)

Lyrica's Lion²³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Rob J Fitzpatrick⁽⁵⁾| T: C Poulton| OR: 71| CD

10/1

Has a pleasing overall strike-rate of 33% (5-15), which includes a July 2018 C&D win; 2lb higher than when holding on determinedly to see off Purple Rock by a neck at Nottingham (1m2f) last October; first Flat runner for Camilla Poulton.

Form: 011321-

(4)

Nawar^t³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Levey| T: M R Bosley| OR: 70

14/1

Seven-race maiden, albeit placed on five occasions, including when beaten just under 2L by Here's Two on the Polytrack at Lingfield (1m) last month; worth an attempt over this longer trip - dam was a 1m2f winner; has second start since wind surgery.

Form: 3423-63

(13)

Cogital^h¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P J Dobbs| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 69| BF

14/1

10-race maiden; finished fourth on handicap debut (off a 13lb higher mark) over C&D in June 2018; needs to significantly improve upon his recent Bath comeback (1m) in order to play a positive role; NR at Brighton on Tuesday.

Form: 42393-3

(8)

Singing Sheriff²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: E Walker| OR: 68

9/2

Disqualified after 'winning' for the second successive time on the AW, at Wolverhampton (1m4f) in early April; not involved back on turf latest (Doncaster) but remains handily weighted, stays well and is largely unexposed on grass.

Form: 0321D0

(9)

Sea Tide²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: G Lee| T: Mrs L J Mongan| OR: 68

25/1

Has disappointed since winning a Carlisle maiden (1m1f) for Hugo Palmer in August 2017; 0-7 for Laura Mongan since joining the yard for 16,000gns; slowly is becoming more reasonably handicapped.

Form: 4753-56

(12)

Tangramm^p⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Ryan Tate| T: D K Ivory| OR: 66| D

50/1

A nine-time AW winner, anywhere between 1m1f and 1m4f; well beaten on both previous turf starts (at Windsor); difficult to be wildly optimistic about his chances.

Form: 42-0799

(14)

Tulane⁵⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 60

40/1

Well beaten (12th of 17) on nursery/handicap debut at Leicester (7f) in October 2017 and absent since; bred to do better over a trip (half-brother to two winners, 1m2f-1m6f); that said, can't be considered as a possible solution to this puzzle.

Form: 7300/

Forecasts

Matewan (4/1), Singing Sheriff (9/2), My Boy Sepoy (5/1), Sudona (7/1), Jumping Jack (9/1), Uther Pendragon (10/1), Lyrica's Lion (10/1), Cogital (14/1), Nawar (14/1), Bayston Hill (16/1), Sea Tide (25/1), Tulane (40/1), Tangramm (50/1), Ruby Gates (50/1)

A tricky race featuring four last time out winners to kick-off what is by far and away the most prestigious evening meeting of the entire summer. Matewan makes his seasonal reappearance seeking a hat-trick following late season wins at Newmarket (1m2f) and Beverley (1m4f) and has Ryan Moore booked to ride. Sudona and My Boy Sepoy finished close together at Lingfield three weeks ago, with the latter a definite contender for the in-form Stuart Williams. However, the tentative selection is the Ed Walker-trained SINGING SHERIFF who stays well, remains reasonably handicapped and is in truth largely unexposed on turf.