18:12 Sandown

Sunday 21 August 2022

All15:4216:1216:4217:1217:4218:1218:42

Sky Bet Sunday Series Mile Handicap

Off time: 18:14 | Winning time: 1m 42.92s

(6)

Helm Rock^t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: Nicola Currie| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 88| D

10/1

Thriving at present and supplemented his Carlisle win with further success at Wolverhampton 8 days ago. Another solid showing is on the cards.

Form: 255311

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(14)

Don't Tell Claire¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: J Mitchell| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 84| C| D

15/2

Fairly useful mare who ran respectably at Haydock a fortnight ago. Should give her running again, but others look better treated.

Form: 56-5886

(9)

Takeachancejimmy²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: A Kirby| T: N Slevin| OR: 83| D

33/1

Latest win at Ballinrobe in July but seemed unsuited by the drop in trip at Galway next time, so he's not all that appealing over even shorter.

Form: 050-619

(11)

Ikhtiraaq⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: R Kingscote| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 83| D

5/2

Firmly on the up and readily cleared away from his rivals at Pontefract a week ago, so this well-bred 3-y-o is well worth his chance to complete the hat-trick provided he can secure a good tactical position.

Form: 221-711

(3)

Coase^h⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Hollie Doyle| T: M Wigham| OR: 82| D

17/2

Went through a good spell earlier in the year and, having edged back down the weights, posted a more encouraging effort when fifth at Newmarket 9 days ago. Could feature if things drop right.

Form: 423775

(4)

Mark Of Respect²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Ross Coakley| T: J G Portman| OR: 81| D

11/1

Scored at Bath in June and has remained in good order, best of those ridden prominently when seventh of 16 at Goodwood last time. Should be well positioned, so not without hope.

Form: 471227

(8)

Warning Sign⁸²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: T P Queally| T: G & J Moore| OR: 85

80/1

Picked up for €32,000 in July having shown fairly useful form in France but the British handicapper has taken no chances with his mark.

Form: 41-37

(13)

Rawyaan⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: T E Whelan| T: George Baker| OR: 85| D

40/1

Off the mark for current stable at Goodwood in June and, despite a poor showing at Ascot next time, it's too soon to write him off.

Form: 115-019

(10)

Mercurius Power^t¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: W Buick| T: A M Balding| OR: 77| CD

8/1

Slipped below last winning mark and capitalised to score over C&D in July. Has remained in form since, better than the result when seventh at Doncaster last time. Not discounted.

Form: 425127

(5)

Professional Widow⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: K Shoemark| T: R Spencer| OR: 77| D

33/1

Resumed winning ways at Haydock in June but hasn't fired since, so others are more appealing in this competitive environment.

Form: 7-42108

(2)

Blueberry Hill^p1⁸⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Benoit D L Sayette⁽³⁾| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 82

16/1

Stepped up on reappearance when winning 9-runner novice at Epsom in April, putting experience to good use. Fourth on handicap debut at Ascot subsequently, but latest run was underwhelming.

Form: 23-3149

(12)

Ascending⁷²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Saffie Osborne⁽³⁾| T: C G Cox| OR: 81| D

8/1

Took on elders for the first time and took a step forward when shedding maiden status in 8-runner handicap at Goodwood in June. Off since but 4 lb rise could be lenient.

Form: 5364-61

(1)

Laguna Veneta³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 77| D

11/1

Going the right way and resumed winning ways in an 8-runner event at Newmarket a month ago, having a bit to spare. Well drawn and likely to show up well once more.

Form: 363121

(7)

Island Bandit^b¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Gina Mangan⁽⁵⁾| T: H Main| OR: 73| CD

16/1

Sharpened up by blinkers of late and completed a double from the front over C&D 17 days ago. Might face more pressure for the lead this time, but should give his all.

Form: 874011

Non-Runners

(15)

Enigmatic⁹

Weight: 9-10| Age: 8

T: J Parr J: David Probert

Forecasts

Ikhtiraaq (5/2), Enigmatic (6/1), Don't Tell Claire (15/2), Ascending (8/1), Mercurius Power (8/1), Coase (17/2), Helm Rock (10/1), Mark Of Respect (11/1), Laguna Veneta (11/1), Island Bandit (16/1), Blueberry Hill (16/1), Professional Widow (33/1), Takeachancejimmy (33/1), Rawyaan (40/1), Warning Sign (80/1)

IKHTIRAAQ is improving fast and, based on the ease in which he cleared away from two others at Pontefract a week ago, he can stay ahead of the handicapper for a while yet, so he's a confident choice to complete a hat-trick for all this is a more-competitive scenario. Ascending had something to spare when winning at Goodwood and is a big danger. Mercurius Power and Laguna Veneta are also considered.