13:50 Sandown

Wednesday 14 September 2022

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4017:10

Whatton Manor Stud Handicap

Off time: 13:52 | Winning time: 1m 6.23s

(3)

The Daley Express^p⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: A J Farragher⁽⁵⁾| T: R Harris| OR: 71| D

12/1

Returned to form when narrowly landing a 5f Goodwood handicap last month and wasn't disgraced off this 3 lb higher mark at Leicester recently. Still, he'll do well to better his fourth-place finish in the 2021 renewal of this race.

Form: 59-0014

(5)

Harb³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: S W Kelly| T: P Crate| OR: 71

11/1

Ran up to his recent best on first run since leaving William Knight when creditable fourth of 9 in handicap at Windsor (5f, firm) in August. Mark down slightly again and he's not without a chance in an open-looking race.

Form: 684984

(9)

Pop Dancer^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: David Probert| T: A W Carroll| OR: 68| CD

16/1

Dual winner in 2020, including over this C&D. Arrives on a long losing run, but he has found just one too good on three occasions this season (just touched off over 5.3f at Brighton last time) and, like stablemate Wiley Post, he needs considering.

Form: 932262

(7)

Nubough^t⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Joshua Bryan| T: M Pattinson| OR: 66

14/1

Good second back from a break at Kempton (6f) last month, but record stands at 0-16 on turf and he's passed over here on that basis.

Form: 1-43392

(2)

Russellinthebushes³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: P Cosgrave| T: P D Evans| OR: 67| BF| D

6/1

Now 9 lb lower in the weights compared to when landing a Chester nursery last September, but that's her sole success from 17 career starts and she disappointed in an AW claimer last time.

Form: 838445

(6)

Sir Benedict¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 64| CD

9/4

Back on the scoresheet at Hamilton (6f, good) in June and largely creditable efforts in defeat since, runner-up over the same C&D on his latest start a fortnight ago. Mark unchanged and likely to give another good account.

Form: 184322

(8)

Gherkin^b¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Rob Hornby| T: W S Kittow| OR: 64| BF| D

9/2

Did the job readily back at the minimum trip in a Windsor handicap in June. Below par when behind The Daley Express at Goodwood recently, but there were excuses on that occasion and may well back with a bold show here.

Form: 814335

(4)

Phoenix Star^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Oliver Stammers⁽³⁾| T: Jessica Macey| OR: 63| BF| CD

4/1

Dead-heated in a Class 3 handicap over this C&D off a 14 lb higher mark last summer. Though winless since, he has hit the crossbar on a few occasions this season, including at Newcastle last week, and he's a must for the shortlist.

Form: 702852

Non-Runners

(1)

Wiley Post⁶³

Weight: 9-10| Age: 9

T: A W Carroll J: Jason Watson

Forecasts

Sir Benedict (9/4), Phoenix Star (4/1), Gherkin (9/2), Wiley Post (5/1), Russellinthebushes (6/1), Harb (11/1), The Daley Express (12/1), Nubough (14/1), Pop Dancer (16/1)

Cases can easily be made for the majority of these, but it's PHOENIX STAR who boasts the most compelling claims, despite arriving here on a 21-race losing run. The 6-y-o shared the spoils in a significantly stronger handicap than this over C&D last summer and his recent near miss at Newcastle suggested that he's ready strike. The consistent Sir Benedict is just about second choice ahead of the Tony Carroll-trained duo, Wiley Post and Pop Dancer.