16:25 Sandown

Thursday 25 July 2019

All13:4514:1514:5015:2015:5516:2517:00

Christmas Parties At Sandown Park Handicap

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 1m 44.46s

(3)

Eligible¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 76

7/4

Tale of steady improvement this year and probably didn't get the run of things when second at Kempton last time out. Third under similar conditions at Leicester three starts back and if taking another step forward, looks a major player here.

Form: 90-342

(6)

Black Medick²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Liam Jones| T: Mrs L J Mongan| OR: 73| D

25/1

Had looked to be going nowhere until springing a 33-1 surprise at Windsor last time, although the form of that race not hard to knock. 3lb rise and the fact the yard have gone off the boil are enough to make you look elsewhere for the winner.

Form: 460551

(1)

Sassoon^p⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Jim Crowley| T: P & O Cole| OR: 72

7/1

Went close a couple of times as a 2yo but on this season's evidence, doesn't appear to be progressing. Cheekpieces (ran okay in them earlier in season) back on, which might help, but others more persuasive.

Form: 32-7338

(4)

Flying Dragon⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 71| CD

5/1

Not going anywhere quickly at present and looks very one paced whatever the trip he tries. On the plus side, has a C&D win to his name, so if he can recapture former glories, is well enough handicapped. Risky at present, though.

Form: 6-85745

(8)

Quarry Beach²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: H Candy| OR: 71

5/2

Steady if unspectacular progress as a 2yo, but first run this season suggested she'd improved a bit when second in a similar contest at Newbury. Looked a little one paced there so uphill finish here could suit, and she may yet do better.

Form: 5033-2

(5)

Lolita Pulido³⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 70

20/1

Ran with promise on all three starts as a 2yo, although you'd be pushed to say she improved. Nevertheless, looks ready for a step up in trip this year and that might yet prove the catalyst to better. May need this after an absence, though.

Form: 465-

(7)

Kings Royal Hussar¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: A King| OR: 68| BF

15/2

Almost came good on first start this year, denied by the minimum margin at Nottingham and there are legitimate excuses for his two starts since then. Back to what may be his best trip and fairly handicapped again, so can't be discounted.

Form: 505-293

Non-Runners

(2)

Image Of The Moon³⁰

Weight: 9-4| Age: 3

T: S L Keightley J: S De Sousa

Forecasts

Eligible (7/4), Quarry Beach (5/2), Image Of The Moon (4/1), Flying Dragon (5/1), Sassoon (7/1), Kings Royal Hussar (15/2), Lolita Pulido (20/1), Black Medick (25/1)

Sassoon is likely to get an easy lead here, but he's not really progressing and that alone might not be enough. Choosing between the rest isn't easy though, as cases can be made for all of them, but ELIGIBLE might have been a bit unlucky not to get closer at Kempton last time and with better luck here, can come out on top. Flying Dragon comes with plenty of risks but this is a tempting looking mark and if they do go quickly on the front end, that can only help his cause late. Quarry Beach may be best of the rest.