16:20 Sandown

Sunday 22 August 2021

All15:5516:2016:5017:2017:4518:1518:45

Sky Bet Sunday Series Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 16:22 | Winning time: 2m 9.90s

(8)

Athmad²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Joanna Mason| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 85| D

22/1

Thrived on his racing last winter, notching 4 wins, and picked up from where he left off to score at Newcastle (10.2f, 25/1) just under 3 weeks ago. Should go well once again.

Form: 33-1221

(10)

Mascat⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Billy Garritty| T: R M Beckett| OR: 85

11/2

It's now thirteen runs since last win in 2019 and while his latest run at Lingfield (all-weather bow) wasn't devoid of promise, it's become difficult to label his optimum trip. Mark continues to fall.

Form: 926485

(15)

Daheer³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Elisha Whittington⁽³⁾| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 85

22/1

Scored 3 times at Wolverhampton last year and made an encouraging reappearance when a close fourth at Nottingham last month, holding every chance inside final 1f. Needs to step forward on that.

Form: 1151B-4

(13)

Maiden Castle⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Rhys Clutterbuck⁽³⁾| T: H Candy| OR: 84| D

7/1

Made a winning reappearance at Windsor in April and ran to similar level when third of 6 at Doncaster (10.2f, good to firm, 7/2) 78 days ago, having run of race. Not dismissed from same mark.

Form: 7013-13

(12)

Kryptos⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Gina Mangan⁽⁵⁾| T: John Berry| OR: 83

14/1

Scored at Wolverhampton last November but yet to fully fire in 3 starts this season, having excuses (hampered early) when eighth at Windsor when last seen in May. Mark continues to tumble.

Form: 135-578

(16)

Sweet Reward²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Tyler Saunders⁽³⁾| T: J G Portman| OR: 82| CD

5/1

In fine form when landing back-to-back handicaps over C&D in May/June and proved better than ever when finding only a progressive 3-y-o too good at Goodwood. Career-high mark to contend with here.

Form: 311652

(5)

Andaleep^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: William Cox| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 80| CD

14/1

Added to his fine C&D record here when back to form out of the blue to see off 7 rivals last month but had excuses back here 17 days ago, not ideally placed. Can't be dismissed given track record.

Form: 3-00514

(4)

Starfighter⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Stefano Cherchi| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 79| D

66/1

Scored twice on the all-weather earlier this year, and switched back to turf, wasted no time getting back on track when fourth at York 9 weeks ago. Others look better treated on this occasion.

Form: 123294

(11)

No Nay Bella^p1¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: A J Farragher⁽⁵⁾| T: T Ward| OR: 79

100/1

Dual Kempton scorer last November who probably needed the outing after 3 months off back there 18 days ago. Edging back down in the weights and cheekpieces are applied.

Form: 1-73268

(9)

Fairmac^b²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jonny Peate⁽⁷⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 82| BF| D

6/1

Gained reward for his consistency as he finally opened his account for the year when winning at Ayr (10f, good) last month. Ran well at Chester 3 weeks ago and no surprise to see him in the mix again.

Form: 622312

(17)

Tiger Touch⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Sean Kirrane⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 74| D

7/1

Fairly useful performer in France (finished close fourth at Longchamp in June). Bought for €32,000 in July from Nicolas Clement, and he needs monitoring in the market for shrewd connections.

Form: 124-064

(14)

Lucky's Dream⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Cameron Noble| T: Ian Williams| OR: 73| D

33/1

Scored 3 times earlier this year (including a jumpers bumper). Respectable fourth of 13 in handicap at Carlisle (11.2f, good to firm, 9/1) 60 days ago and likely to find a few too good.

Form: 122044

(1)

Fountain Cross²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Liam Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 80

33/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2020 and although his last run is easily excused at Bath, he's not one to put maximum faith in.

Form: 9-03864

(2)

Silver Gunn^h²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Dylan Hogan| T: M Botti| OR: 78| D

11/1

Still keen but notched a second career win in a first-time hood at Nottingham last month. Similar form in defeat when runner-up at Bath last time and he can't be ruled out from the same mark.

Form: 6-21512

(7)

Glencora³²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Saffie Osborne⁽³⁾| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 70| BF| D

6/1

Scored twice in early summer and has remained in form since, going down by the narrowest of margins at Leicester (11.8f, good to firm) 32 days ago. Clearly on a handy mark so one to take seriously.

Form: 911332

Non-Runners

(6)

Civil Law³¹

Weight: 9-10| Age: 4

T: R A Teal J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

(3)

End Result⁴²

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: D R C Elsworth J: O McSweeney

Forecasts

Sweet Reward (5/1), Mascat (11/2), Fairmac (6/1), Glencora (6/1), Maiden Castle (7/1), Tiger Touch (7/1), End Result (10/1), Silver Gunn (11/1), Civil Law (12/1), Kryptos (14/1), Andaleep (14/1), Athmad (22/1), Daheer (22/1), Lucky's Dream (33/1), Fountain Cross (33/1), Starfighter (66/1), No Nay Bella (100/1)

Cases can be made for many, but preference is for David Elsworth's GLENCORA, who went down by the narrowest of margins back on firmer ground at Leicester last month and is clearly still on a handy mark. Athmad proved at least as good as ever when scoring at Newcastle on reappearance so he's feared most, ahead of Fairmac and David O'Meara's French-recruit Tiger Touch.