19:37 Sandown

Thursday 5 August 2021

All17:2717:5718:2719:0219:3720:07

Casumo Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap

Off time: 19:38 | Winning time: 1m 44.92s

(9)

Dark Spec¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: D C Costello| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 70

5/1

Lightly-raced maiden who shaped as if retaining all ability back from a 46-month absence when fourth on Beverley handicap debut (7.4f, good to firm) 17 days ago. May yet do better.

Form: 8264/4

(12)

Mumtaaz^p1¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: R Havlin| T: C Hills| OR: 69| D

11/2

Winner at Bath (1m) in April and returned to form after a couple of underwhelming efforts when third in 7-runner contest over C&D 15 days ago. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: 133793

(6)

Plymouth Rock^v⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: L Carter| OR: 69| D

25/1

Took a small step back in the right direction on first run since leaving David Loughnane when sixth of 10 in handicap at Epsom (8.5f) last week, but he isn't one to go overboard about.

Form: 39-9986

(13)

Maysong⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Jim Crowley| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 66

16/1

Easing in the weights but needs to bounce back from a lacklustre display at Newbury if he's to make any impression. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 7-77349

(10)

Appellation^h²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: L Morris| T: R Hughes| OR: 72| D

22/1

Much improved to get off the mark on her handicap bow at Leicester (1m) in June. Ran poorly in a much warmer race at Ascot but could bounce back now returning to calmer waters.

Form: 65417

(3)

Royal Tribute^b⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R Hannon| OR: 72

8/1

Has yet to build on 2-y-o debut promise in 4 subsequent starts, though did take a small step back in the right direction in first-time blinkers at this course last time. Gelded subsequently.

Form: 44-488

(11)

Florence Street^h³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| OR: 71

4/1

Fair maiden who improved when second of 14 in handicap at Newbury (8f, good, 7/1) 35 days ago, never nearer. Her task is to now back that up.

Form: 735-752

(2)

Pitchcombe^v¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽³⁾| T: P R Chamings| OR: 64| D

6/1

Is down to a good mark and took a step back in the right direction in a first-time visor when fifth at Windsor (8.1f) 17 days ago. Interesting.

Form: 609005

(1)

Crema Inglesa^h²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: J F Egan| T: J A Osborne| OR: 66| D

10/1

Confirmed previous promise when making 2nd handicap start a winning one after 8 months off at Chepstow in June. Not quite in same form in a similar event at Kempton but remains relatively unexposed.

Form: 7054-15

(5)

Ascraeus²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: William Carson| T: Mrs L J Mongan| OR: 57| D

33/1

Took advantage of a reduced mark at Salisbury in Jun. Ran creditably from a 4 lb higher mark at Epsom next time but wasn't in the same form at that venue 7 days later.

Form: 785156

(4)

St George's Bay²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: E Walker| OR: 63

12/1

Promise in his 3 qualifying runs but has failed to progress for the switch to handicaps, possibly amiss when well held at Newbury last time.

Form: 96980

(8)

Vitesse Du Son⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽³⁾| T: M Pattinson| OR: 56

50/1

Won back-to-back 7f handicaps at Lingfield earlier in the year but was below form after 6 weeks off at Wolverhampton last time. First run for yard after leaving Stuart Kittow.

Form: 355118

Non-Runners

(7)

Bagatelle¹⁵

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: M D I Usher J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Florence Street (4/1), Dark Spec (5/1), Mumtaaz (11/2), Pitchcombe (6/1), Royal Tribute (8/1), Crema Inglesa (10/1), St George's Bay (12/1), Maysong (16/1), Appellation (22/1), Plymouth Rock (25/1), Bagatelle (25/1), Ascraeus (33/1), Vitesse Du Son (50/1)

An open contest with the vote going to PITCHCOMBE, who's down to a good mark and looks interesting after taking a step back in the right direction at Windsor 17 days ago. Crema Inglesa is still relatively unexposed so may do better still, while similar comments apply to Dark Spec, who shaped as if retaining all his ability back from a mammoth absence on his recent Beverley handicap bow.