20:40 Sandown

Wednesday 24 July 2019

All18:0018:3019:0519:3520:1020:40

Devine Homes Handicap

Off time: 20:40 | Winning time: 3m 3.97s

(4)

Machine Learner¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: S M Levey| T: J Tuite| OR: 86| CD

4/1

C&D winner who quickly got himself back on track last time having gone backwards from his reappearance over the same track and trip as today. That was his best effort of the season (allowed winner first run); still on an attractive mark.

Form: 574-472

(5)

Mandalayan²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Rob Hornby| T: J G Portman| OR: 85

9/1

Turned in a below-par effort last time after a break returned to the AW failing to live up to the form he had shown in earlier turf handicaps. Needs to bounce back from that mundane start, still to prove himself at this 1m6f trip.

Form: 673-230

(10)

Darksideoftarnside^p³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Jim Crowley| T: Ian Williams| OR: 82

16/1

Both of his wins have come under testing conditions so the chances are this will be too quick for him. Made little impact on his seasonal return over this trip at Newmarket, others far more appealing.

Form: 71646-8

(8)

Dono Di Dio²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: George Wood| T: M Madgwick| OR: 82

6/1

Holding her form well although the succession of runner-up slots punctuated by one AW win could be the cause of some frustration for win backers. Proved herself capable over this trip last time (second at Salisbury); handicapper may be in charge now.

Form: 221222

(3)

Guns of Leros^v⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: H Crouch| T: G & J Moore| OR: 81

6/1

Has one outstanding piece of form to his name a Newmarket win off a huge break when reappearing last year; failed to get near that level since. Recent efforts have underlined a rather quirky nature; looks the sort everything needs to go right for.

Form: 507-868

(6)

Trouble And Strife^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 80| D

7/1

Rather like her stable needs to get herself back on track having only recently returned to action as the yard clicks into gear. Possibly still needed the run when well held at Catterick last time; this mark demands more than she has to give.

Form: 3120-45

(1)

Archimento²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Watson| T: W J Knight| OR: 80

9/1

Enjoyed a fruitful time last year rattling up four handicap wins at up to 1m4f but has failed to spark at all this year so far. Showed very little last time over 2f shorter at Epsom; isn't one who looks that interesting, looks weighted to the hilt.

Form: 4-76575

(7)

Petrastar^h1²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: David Probert| T: C G Cox| OR: 79

12/1

Yet to win a race but the type who looks as though he could be useful if it did all come together (looks a nervous type). Better than the result last time in a scenario where little went right; hood on first-time/up in trip, note a market move.

Form: 2-97237

(2)

Emenem¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S Dow| OR: 79

7/2

On a long losing streak although he has produced some creditable efforts of late without looking as though he's going to produce a long elusive win. Travelled well over C&D last time out just lacking a crucial change of pace at the right time.

Form: 324924

(9)

Seaport^t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: T P Queally| T: S Durack| OR: 77

25/1

Offered little on his return to action last time having had a wind op and a break of some 13 months. Does have some useful form to his name in the past but hard to see him making much of an impact in this despite a much-reduced mark.

Form: 0/3369-0

Forecasts

Emenem (7/2), Machine Learner (4/1), Guns of Leros (6/1), Dono Di Dio (6/1), Trouble And Strife (7/1), Archimento (9/1), Mandalayan (9/1), Petrastar (12/1), Darksideoftarnside (16/1), Seaport (25/1)

The C&D handicap that saw Machine Learner beat Emenem from earlier this month is a key piece of form with the two protagonists finishing second and fourth respectively and at the revised weights there shouldn’t be much between the pair. The former mentioned of the duo is preferred still though but with four-year-olds having won the last four runnings of this contest the hooded (first-time) PETRASTAR is very much on the radar. He’s yet to put all the pieces of the jigsaw together but is getting closer to completing the puzzle. Dono Di Dio is consistent and should be considered but like a few in this the handicapper may now have control.