17:40 Sandown

Thursday 26 May 2022

All17:4018:1518:5019:2520:0020:35

Coral 'Beaten-By-A-Length' Free Bet Handicap

Off time: 17:41 | Winning time: 2m 10.92s

(10)

Eikonix¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 76

7/1

AW novice winner last summer. Bit disappointing in Doncaster handicap on final start but back on track when 1¼ lengths third of 11 to reopposing The Whipmaster at Lingfield (AW) on reappearance 16 days ago. Claims if he can build on that.

Form: 2135-3

(1)

Glen Esk³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Hollie Doyle| T: C F Wall| OR: 75| D

10/1

Progresive when completing a hat-trick last summer and back on the up with 1¼m Haydock reappearance win 33 days ago. 6 lb higher mark this time does demand more of him.

Form: 11470-1

(11)

Grey Fox^p,t1¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: H Crouch| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 75| D

17/2

Progressed last term, winning 3 times. Has returned with a couple of creditable efforts in defeat this spring but a bit more will be needed to defy this mark.

Form: 8119-52

(2)

The Whipmaster¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: R L Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 74| D

11/4

Built on his reappearance when showing a nice turn of foot to win a Lingfield AW handicap over this trip 16 days ago. 2 lb rise looks fair and he's been successful on 2 of the 3 previous occasions he's been partnered by Ryan Moore. Big player.

Form: 3380-61

(4)

Stopnsearch⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Rossa Ryan| T: B R Johnson| OR: 72| D

16/1

Largely creditable efforts on AW since the turn of the year and equally as effective on turf. More than capable of being very competitive off this mark.

Form: 8-432D8

(3)

Millions Memories²²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: William Carson| T: Mrs L J Mongan| OR: 72| D

40/1

Won at Chepstow (1¼m) last June and also good second at Goodwood in September. Off since a poor run at Bath in October. Perhaps best to look elsewhere this time.

Form: 913720-

(5)

Eton Blue^h²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: P Cosgrave| T: George Baker| OR: 72| BF| D

5/1

Career best when winning 16-runner Windsor handicap on reappearance and backed it up when third to the reopposing Wonder Starelzaam back there since. Likely to be thereabouts but may find Denis Coakley's charge too strong again.

Form: 1380-13

(7)

Whitlock^p⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Rob Hornby| T: A Irvine| OR: 70| D

125/1

Well held on Flat for this yard last backend and has largely disappointed over hurdles since. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 1422/00-

(8)

Wonder Starelzaam²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: George Bass⁽⁵⁾| T: D J Coakley| OR: 69| D

9/2

Improver since joing this yard last autumn, making it 3 wins in just 6 starts when overcoming trouble to lead in the final 50 yds over 1¼m at Windsor (good to firm) 24 days ago. Very much unexposed at this trip and a 4 lb rise may not stop him.

Form: 12-1371

(6)

Forge Valley Lad⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 67| D

8/1

Back to winning ways at Wolverhampton in March and couple of good placed efforts on Lingfield's AW since. Turf winner earler in his career so no reason why he won't give his running again.

Form: 623132

(9)

Can't Stop Now^h³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Charles Bishop| T: C Gordon| OR: 65

66/1

Fakenham juvenile hurdle winner in November 2020 but has struggled on Flat and over hurdles since a late fall at Taunton the following month. Can only be watched.

Form: 3629/0-9

(12)

Night Eagle^p,t²²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Rhys Clutterbuck⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 62| D

33/1

Three wins over this trip in a productive 2021 campaign. Been off 7 months and The Whipmaster has to be considered the yard first string on this occasion.

Form: 331150-

Forecasts

The Whipmaster (11/4), Wonder Starelzaam (9/2), Eton Blue (5/1), Eikonix (7/1), Forge Valley Lad (8/1), Grey Fox (17/2), Glen Esk (10/1), Stopnsearch (16/1), Night Eagle (33/1), Millions Memories (40/1), Can't Stop Now (66/1), Whitlock (125/1)

WONDER STARELZAAM did well to get up at Windsor last time on his first turf start for this yard and, unexposed at the trip, is taken to make light of a 4 lb rise. The Whipmaster rates an obvious danger on the back of his Lingfield since, while Eton Blue was a good third to the selection at Windsor and also makes the shortlist.