15:20 Sandown

Sunday 2 August 2020

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:5015:2015:55

Hwfa Williams Handicap

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 2m 8.35s

(9)

Central City^p¹⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Gavin Ashton⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 70| BF| D

28/1

Knocking on the door on the AW earlier in the calendar year, namely when finishing 1½L third to the progressive Glan Y Gors at Newcastle (1m4½f); returns to turf off an easing mark; each-way possibilities.

Form: 487-236

(8)

Water's Edge^p¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Cieren Fallon⁽³⁾| T: George Baker| OR: 69| D

6/1

In reasonable shape; may prove capable of breaking his turf duck (0-6) sooner or later; just out-battled by Stan Moore's Uther Pendragon at Bath (1m2f, good to firm) on his penultimate start.

Form: 56-5823

(5)

Fair Power²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Dylan Hogan⁽³⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 66| D

25/1

Went reasonably close in a moderate Class 6 AW handicap at Lingfield (1m2f) in June; it's somewhat unfortunate for connections that his turf mark has risen at the same rate as his AW mark.

Form: 7-24926

(6)

Andaleep²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: William Cox⁽³⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 64

14/1

17-race maiden; continues to put together a string of placed efforts without exactly threatening to score - was beaten 3L when third to Song Of The Isles at Chepstow (1m, soft) 24 days ago.

Form: 488-233

(12)

Molinari⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: W R Muir| OR: 69| D

1/1

Steadily progressive in 2020; wears his heart on his sleeve from the front, and his recent Class 4 Ascot second to Tenbury Wells (1m2f, good) reads well in the context of this lower grade handicap; holds a solid chance.

Form: 05-4312

(7)

Grey Fox¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: R Havlin| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 68

12/1

Upped-in-trip for handicap debut over C&D (good) 17 days ago, finishing seventh of 14 (11-1) to Cozone; that form line in put to the test by the Michael Bell-trained By My Side in the previous race (2.50pm).

Form: 56-7

(3)

No Dress Rehearsal³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Joey Haynes| T: L A Dace| OR: 60

80/1

Threatened earlier in her career for Mick Easterby, but is reportedly a tricky customer; has fluffed the start and not beaten a single rival in two starts for Luke Dace; is plummeting down the handicap as a result; best ignored.

Form: 7343-06

(11)

Lady Pendragon⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: S De Sousa| T: Martin Smith| OR: 67

4/1

Hit the frame on handicap debut on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket (1m4f, soft) seven weeks ago; the winner Lyrical has been well beaten since, and the runner-up Single was readily brushed aside (second) at Pontefract on Friday.

Form: 9-533

(13)

Mephisto^b1³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 63

11/1

Unconvincing overall profile; didn't appear to have the most hardy of attitudes when sixth of ten to King's Charisma on handicap debut at Haydock (1m2f, soft); the forecast quicker ground may assist, but no real surprise to see the blinkers go on.

Form: 40-06

(1)

Haraz³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: George Rooke⁽⁵⁾| T: P Butler| OR: 45

100/1

1-29 on turf (2-70 overall) and competes from 6lb outside of the handicap proper; basically that's enough said, so feel safe to look elsewhere.

Form: 789494

Result Amended

Andaleep - Original Position 1st. Amended Position 2nd.

Mephisto - Original Position 2nd. Amended Position 1st.

Non-Runners

(4)

Twpsyn¹⁹

Weight: 10-1| Age: 4

T: P D Evans J: Non Runner

(10)

El Salvaje¹⁵¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: D M Simcock J: L Morris

(2)

On The Right Track²²

Weight: 8-6| Age: 3

T: M D I Usher J: Charlie Bennett

Forecasts

Molinari (1/1), Lady Pendragon (4/1), Water's Edge (6/1), El Salvaje (6/1), Twpsyn (10/1), Mephisto (11/1), Grey Fox (12/1), Andaleep (14/1), On The Right Track (22/1), Fair Power (25/1), Central City (28/1), No Dress Rehearsal (80/1), Haraz (100/1)

The obvious starting point is the front-runner Molinari who drops back into a Class 5 contest after producing a career best in defeat at Ascot (1m2f) last weekend. If granted a soft lead he's likely to prove tough to peg back with James Doyle in the saddle. However, in another scenario the stiff Sandown uphill finish could just count against his chances of recording a second career win. Therefore, we look towards the foot of the weights for the solution in the expectation that we're ON THE RIGHT TRACK. Mark Usher's three-year-old was a pleasing third to By Jove and Grand Canal (winner since) on his first attempt at this trip at Salisbury. El Salvaje is also noteworthy