20:40 Epsom Downs

Thursday 20 July 2023

All17:5518:3019:0019:3520:0520:40

Rock Sand Handicap

Off time: 20:43 | Winning time: 2m 41.12s

(5)

Red Royalist^p,t⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Connor Planas⁽⁵⁾| T: M Murphy & M Keady| OR: 68| D

5/1

Ended long losing run when taking 8-runner handicap at Chester (12.3f, heavy) 5 days ago. Can race off same mark and is one for the shortlist.

Form: 3/37-331

(4)

Sword Beach^p⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Cieren Fallon| T: A King| OR: 68

11/1

Been given a chance by the handicapper and posted creditable fourth at Doncaster (11.9f, good to firm) 48 days ago, not ideally placed. Warrants respect.

Form: 645074

(3)

Nellie Moon⁴¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Jim Crowley| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 66| D

9/2

Ran poorly when last seen at Newbury 13 months ago and is likely best watched on return.

Form: 633/569-

(7)

Night Eagle^p,t⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: T P Queally| T: G & J Moore| OR: 64| CD

15/2

C&D winner last summer and offered more than on his reappearance when fifth of 9 in handicap (7/1) at Lingfield (12f, AW) 47 days ago. Claims if building on that.

Form: 1267-55

(9)

Naasma¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Paddy Bradley⁽³⁾| T: P Phelan| OR: 64| BF

6/1

Found improvement when scoring at Lingfield (10f) last month and backed that up with solid second of 6 in handicap at Windsor (10f, firm, 3/1) 18 days ago. Worth a crack at this longer trip and is not out of things.

Form: 36-2612

(1)

Spritzin'⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 68

6/4

Promising sort who upped her game when close second of 9 in handicap at Pontefract (12f, good to soft, 9/2) on return 9 days ago. Likely more to come yet.

Form: 506-2

(6)

Angels Roc¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Charlie Bennett| T: J R Boyle| OR: 55| C

16/1

Won twice last season and posted best effort this term when fourth of 11 in handicap over C&D (good) 15 days ago, never nearer. His slow-starting habit is a concern, though.

Form: 143-7P4

Non-Runners

(2)

Typical Woman¹⁴

Weight: 10-3| Age: 4

T: Ian Williams J: W Buick

(8)

Socially Shady²⁸

Weight: 9-12| Age: 6

T: J & S Best J: J Quinn

Forecasts

Spritzin' (6/4), Typical Woman (11/4), Nellie Moon (9/2), Red Royalist (5/1), Naasma (6/1), Night Eagle (15/2), Sword Beach (11/1), Angels Roc (16/1), Socially Shady (20/1)

There should be more to come from SPRITZIN', who looked a different proposition when stepped up to this trip at Pontefract last week. She can land the finale. Red Royalist and Typical Woman rate the principal dangers.