15:15 Sandown

Saturday 21 August 2021

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:15

Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 2m 8.80s

(5)

Faylaq⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: P J Dobbs| T: W J Haggas| OR: 101

12/1

Upwardly-mobile 3-y-o handicapper in 2019. Smart effort when second at Ripon in cheekpieces in April but flattered to deceive in Bet365 Trophy at Newmarket last time. Bit to prove back down in trip.

Form: 66-3260

(4)

Victory Chime^v²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 99| CD

28/1

C&D winner who scored again at Epsom (10f) in April from Sky Defender. Second there in June but below form last 3 starts, racing indolently at Goodwood last time. Visor back on.

Form: 312000

(6)

Sky Defender¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 97| D

20/1

Losing run mounting up, but back on the right path last 2 starts, and has eased a further 1 lb in the weights. Not ruled out.

Form: 249063

(10)

Soto Sizzler²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: J Mitchell| T: D Menuisier| OR: 96

15/2

Useful handicapper who is still threatening to come good soon, passing the line with more to give from an unpromising position at Ascot (12f) last month. Drop back in trip not sure to suit, though.

Form: 427285

(2)

Pivoine^b⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 94| CD

10/1

2019 John Smith's Cup winner who capitalised on a falling mark at Haydock (10f) in June. Possibly unsuited by softer conditions when not in same form over C&D last time. Blinkers back on.

Form: 78-7416

(1)

Data Protection^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Nicola Currie| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 90| CD

33/1

Won this race 12 months ago from 5 lb lower and back on the scoresheet at Newmarket (10f) in June, but the handicapper seems in control now and was well held at Ascot a fortnight ago.

Form: 331570

(11)

Celtic Art¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: P J McDonald| T: P & O Cole| OR: 90

25/1

Ran best race for some time dropping into a 0-90 on the back of a gelding operation when second in 6-runner event at Bath (10.2f) 17 days ago. His task is to now build on that.

Form: 630-952

(3)

Plantadream⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: M Dwyer| T: J R Best| OR: 89

50/1

Successful 3 times at 1m last year. Yet to really catch fire this term and now back up in trip.

Form: 224-030

(8)

Poet Of Life^h²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 96| D

7/4

Gained compensation for an unlucky defeat on debut when scoring at Newbury (1¼m). Followed up with plenty to spare under a penalty at Doncaster and remains a colt of considerable potential.

Form: 311

(9)

Inigo Jones⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: R Kingscote| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 94| D

11/1

Showed improved form to get off the mark at the third attempt at Chester in April. Not disgraced in Newmarket listed event but wasn't in the same form on handicap bow last time, again racing keenly.

Form: 72-139

(7)

King Of Clubs⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: H Morrison| OR: 86

5/2

Well on top at the finish when opening his account in a maiden at Nottingham in May. Placed both starts in handicaps since and latest run is proving strong form, so warrants plenty of respect.

Form: 5-52123

Forecasts

Poet Of Life (7/4), King Of Clubs (5/2), Soto Sizzler (15/2), Pivoine (10/1), Inigo Jones (11/1), Faylaq (12/1), Sky Defender (20/1), Celtic Art (25/1), Victory Chime (28/1), Data Protection (33/1), Plantadream (50/1)

POET OF LIFE has made an excellent start to his career, and with much better still to come, he can prove his opening BHA mark undersells him by some way. Fellow 3-y-o King of Clubs rates a big threat though with the form of his latest run at Newmarket proving very strong. Sky Defender’s mark continues to ease and he may go well at bigger odds.