17:45 Sandown

Sunday 20 August 2023

All15:4516:1516:4517:1517:4518:1518:45

Sky Bet Sunday Series Mile Handicap

Off time: 17:46 | Winning time: 1m 42.86s

(8)

Justice Protecol²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: I Mohammed & J Santos| OR: 95| D

50/1

Useful handicapper who scored four times at Jebel Ali from December to March. Down the field at Newmarket on return, however, and appears to be more effective on synthetics.

Form: 1-12110

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(1)

Ouzo⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 94| C| D

3/1

Consistent sort who looked back to his very best when finding only one rival too good over C&D last time. Sure to give his running again and might be able to go one better from the same mark.

Form: 323662

(4)

Orbaan^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 94| D

8/1

Scored twice last term and, while his form has been in-and-out this year, he shaped better than the result when ninth in the Goodwood Mile 16 days ago. Drops in grade and could get involved if the race is run to suit.

Form: 040979

(12)

Austrian Theory⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: C Johnston| OR: 93| D

18/1

Back to winning ways at Epsom in June and latest run at Hamilton was respectable, albeit with the run of the race. Remains well treated on old form, so claims if he can get across from stall 12.

Form: 503174

(9)

Alrehb⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: K P De Foy| OR: 92| D

12/1

Better than ever when winning on tapeta first 2 starts this year, at Wolverhampton (8.6f) on the second occasion. Placed last couple of outings, back on AW at Newcastle on latest, and he's appealing from his lower turf mark.

Form: 110073

(2)

Indemnify²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: K T O'Neill| T: Alice Haynes| OR: 91| CD

10/1

Off 8 months before cosily landing 9-runner handicap at Newmarket on his final run for Roger Varian. Didn't fire on first outing for current yard but much too soon to be writing off.

Form: 120-156

(11)

What's The Story^p¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Billy Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 89| D

7/1

Benefited from ease in class to end losing run at Carlisle in May. Solid start for new yard and looks likely to be on the premises once more.

Form: 213022

(6)

Bluelight Bay³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 93| D

25/1

Fairly useful form last year and improved when accounting for 6 rivals in a Salisbury handicap in June. Hit quite hard for that win and wasn't in the same form at Newmarket next time.

Form: 55-0619

(5)

Acotango⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 90| BF| D

9/1

Won an AW nursery on his final and has mostly given his running this term. Respectable showing at Goodwood a couple of months ago and is still relatively unexposed.

Form: 41-2923

(3)

Metal Merchant¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: J Channon| OR: 89| D

9/2

Useful performer who has been better than recent form figures suggest, again shaping encouragingly when fifth at Goodwood 17 days ago. Could make his presence felt if things drop right.

Form: 733035

(7)

Island Bandit^b³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Billy Loughnane⁽³⁾| T: H Main| OR: 78| CD

6/1

Dual C&D winner last year, including race. Added to his tally at Goodwood (1m, good to firm) in June and respectable fourth of 12 at Ascot (1m, good, 9/1) since. Could make a bold bid to defend his crown.

Form: 028-014

Non-Runners

(10)

Shimmering Sands¹

Weight: 8-9| Age: 4

T: M & D Easterby J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Ouzo (3/1), Metal Merchant (9/2), Island Bandit (6/1), What's The Story (7/1), Orbaan (8/1), Acotango (9/1), Indemnify (10/1), Alrehb (12/1), Shimmering Sands (12/1), Austrian Theory (18/1), Bluelight Bay (25/1), Justice Protecol (50/1)

OUZO is reliable and his mark is unchanged from when he finished an excellent second over C&D in June, so he's the marginal vote to go one better in an open race. What's The Story is lightly raced for his current stable and is going through a good spell, so he's regarded as the main danger, although Alrehb is handicapped to win if he can match his AW form.