20:12 Sandown

Thursday 25 May 2023

All18:1218:4219:1219:4220:1220:42

Racehorse Lotto Whitsun Cup Handicap

Off time: 20:15 | Winning time: 1m 42.78s

(8)

Aerion Power²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: R Kingscote| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 95| D

17/2

Useful but lightly raced in recent times. May have needed the outing when fourth of 7 on 1m Leicester reappearance 26 days ago. Should strip fitter now but possibly vulnerable to some of the less-exposed sorts in this line-up.

Form: 237/49-4

(9)

Azano²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 94| D

25/1

Not the most consistent but showed he's still useful on his day when second in 1m Newmarket handicap 3 weeks ago.

Form: 6054-52

(3)

Yaanaas²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: R Varian| OR: 93| BF| D

3/1

Won maiden/novice events on AW in the spring (beat Quantico ½ length latterly) and shaped well when second of 15 on 1m Ascot handicap debut 3 weeks ago, travelling like one ahead of his mark. That experience of a big-field handicap should aid his development and there's surely more to come.

Form: 112

(1)

Helm Rock^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: W Buick| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 92| D

5/1

Three wins in the second half of last season and as good as ever when third of 15 in 1m Ascot handicap 3 weeks ago, with the reopposing Yaanaas a neck ahead in second. Thereabouts under William Buick.

Form: 6910-03

(10)

Quantico⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 92| D

9/1

Won 2 1m AW novices last year. Improved again when ½-length second to the reopposing Yaanaas in Kempton novice in April. Conceded 3 lb to Roger Varian's charge on that occasion and weighted to turn the tables. Does need to prove he's as effective on turf, though.

Form: 11-2

(2)

Assessment³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 91| D

9/4

Very lightly raced and overcame an absence to make an impressive winning handicap debut at Kempton (1m) last month. Won sole turf start. Withdrawn after breaking out of stall and running loose at York last week (had been well backed). Open to further improvement and an obvious player.

Form: 2/13-1

(7)

Yantarni²³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: D C Costello| T: Ian Williams| OR: 89| BF| D

100/1

Useful form when first and second in 1m Newmarket handicaps at the end of last summer. Sold out of Charlie Appleby's stable after a disappointing run at Ascot on final 3-y-o start. Joined a shrewd yard. Betting perhaps the best guide to what's expected on this comeback run.

Form: 232/120-

(6)

Indemnify²⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Ray Dawson| T: R Varian| OR: 87| BF| D

17/2

Off the mark in a Nottingham maiden last August and good second on 1m Salisbury handicap debut next time. Ran as if amiss at Hamilton final start. Returns as an unexposed sort but Yaanaas has to be considered the yard first string.

Form: 422120-

(4)

Dingle⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Rossa Ryan| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 85| BF| D

22/1

Good start for this yard on AW, making a winning return from wind surgery at Newcastle (1m) in March. Creditable third at Lingfield (1m again) on Good Friday. Has some form on turf but all wins have been achieved on AW.

Form: 85-2313

Non-Runners

(5)

Light And Dark⁹⁰

Weight: 9-7| Age: 7

T: S bin Suroor J: K T O'Neill

Forecasts

Assessment (9/4), Yaanaas (3/1), Helm Rock (5/1), Indemnify (17/2), Aerion Power (17/2), Quantico (9/1), Light And Dark (20/1), Dingle (22/1), Azano (25/1), Yantarni (100/1)

A cracking handicap which may be best narrowed down to the 3 lightly-raced improvers in the field. YAANAAS has run a cracker in an Ascot handicap since defeating Quantico in a Kempton novice last month and can get the better of Archie Watson's charge again. Assessment won impressively on his Kempton handicap debut and should also be in the thick of things.