17:10 York

Saturday 22 August 2020

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1016:4017:10

Sky Bet Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:13 | Winning time: 59.19s

(4)

Sunday Sovereign⁷⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Joshua Bryan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 105| D

22/1

Won twice for Paddy Twomey at 2 yrs prior to a disappointing Royal Ascot display. Well held on return/debut for Roger Varian in Sandown listed event and changed yards again ahead of this handicap bow.

Form: 4118-7

(11)

Meraas²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Oliver Stammers⁽⁵⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 103

7/2

Winner of 6f Scottish Stewards' Cup at Hamilton in July and not beaten far in English equivalent next time. Should cope with drop to 5f and big chance, albeit best form has come on good/good to firm.

Form: 211916

(3)

Electric Ladyland^p²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Harrison Shaw| T: A Watson| OR: 94| D

12/1

Has progressed to win decent 5f handicaps at Goodwood and Windsor this season. However, this revised mark proved beyond her back at Goodwood last time, and she's another who may want faster ground.

Form: 301014

(2)

Wonderwork¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Stefano Cherchi⁽⁵⁾| T: M Botti| OR: 93| D

9/2

Has improved with each of his 4 starts this year, making all on debut for new yard at Windsor (5f) recently. Now 7 lb higher in a tougher race but he's clearly progressive and may have more to offer.

Form: 00-3121

(9)

Illusionist²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Rowan Scott| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 89| DWS

16/1

Fairly useful 5f winner at 2 yrs and returned with a fine effort for new yard in 3-y-o sprint handicap at Royal Ascot. Failed to fire at Newmarket last time, though, and since undergone wind surgery.

Form: 574-648

(6)

Sampers Seven²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Cieren Fallon| T: M Appleby| OR: 86| CD

7/1

Had excuses at Lingfield and got back on the up in emphatic fashion when making all over C&D last month. Has gone up plenty in the weights but another bold show anticipated all the same.

Form: 1-72131

(8)

Queen's Order^p1²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-1| J: Megan Nicholls| T: K A Ryan| OR: 85| D

8/1

Has left muted reappearance behind with creditable placed efforts the last twice, latterly 3¼ lengths third to Sampers Seven over C&D. 11 lb better off with that rival now and cheekpieces applied.

Form: 180-833

(5)

Live In The Moment³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: Georgia Dobie⁽³⁾| T: A West| OR: 83| CD

10/3

Improved model since racing's resumption, off the mark when seeing off Sampers Seven on AW in June and another step forward when scoring over C&D (good) last time. Couldn't rule out.

Form: 25-6121

(10)

Never Dark⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: Marie Perrault⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 81| D

12/1

Impressively opened his account on return at Kempton (5f) in June. Not beaten far when fourth on latest start at Chelmsford but finished down the field on sole previous turf run at Royal Ascot.

Form: 223104

Non-Runners

(7)

Get Boosting²¹⁵

Weight: 8-3| Age: 3

T: I Jardine J: Non Runner

(1)

Poets Dance¹³

Weight: 8-1| Age: 3

T: Rae Guest J: William Cox

Forecasts

Live In The Moment (10/3), Meraas (7/2), Wonderwork (9/2), Sampers Seven (7/1), Queen's Order (8/1), Never Dark (12/1), Electric Ladyland (12/1), Poets Dance (14/1), Illusionist (16/1), Sunday Sovereign (22/1), Get Boosting (50/1)

Conditions are likely to be slower than anything SAMPERS SEVEN has previously encountered, but that's not to say that she won't handle the ground and Michael Appleby's charge gets the nod following last month's thoroughly decisive C&D success, despite going up 10 lb. Meraas will be a big threat if coping with this trip and the prevailing conditions, while the progressive Wonderwork is also feared.