18:15 Sandown

Sunday 20 August 2023

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

Sky Bet Sunday Series Fillies' Handicap

Off time: 18:18 | Winning time: 1m 56.25s

(14)

Sly Madam^p¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: T E Whelan| T: Miss S West| OR: 82| BF| D

16/1

Much sharper for return when resuming winning ways at Windsor in April and has worked her way back to form of late after a brief lull, posting another good effort against younger rivals when second of 6 in handicap at Epsom (8.5f, good to soft, 10/3) 17 days ago. Solid place claims.

Form: 580262

(1)

Crystal Casque¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Oliver Searle⁽⁷⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 82| C

11/1

Has done well this summer, scoring at Newmarket in June before producing a career-best to land a 7-runner handicap at this course (8f, heavy) 18 days ago. Has regular claimer taking 7 lb off but she should fine life more difficult having been nudged up 4 lb in a more competitive environment.

Form: 495171

(5)

Chips And Rice¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 78

9/1

Made a winning seasonal/stable debut at Lingfield (10f) in April before resuming progress when scoring at Brighton (10f) in July. Shaped as if still in good form under testing conditions at Goodwood last time but current mark demands more.

Form: 2-13516

(13)

Thebeautifulgame¹¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Saffie Osborne| T: Tom Clover| OR: 78

20/1

Went with little fluency after a 5-month absence when last of 7 in handicap at Bath (8f, soft) in May. Since been off a further 111 days and makes little appeal.

Form: 42236-7

(12)

Aiming High⁸⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Hayley Turner| T: D M Simcock| OR: 78

10/1

Won at Southwell on New Year's Day and chased home a less-exposed 3yo on her return to turf at Doncaster in May, Not in the same at Goodwood (12f) a week later and is better known for her exploits over further, so others make greater appeal.

Form: 4-14328

(4)

Zarga²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: R Kingscote| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 84

7/4

Steadily progressive in 3 handicaps this year, taking another step forward to get off the mark in an 8-runner event at Windsor (10f, good, 3/1) 27 days ago. Remains unexposed at this kind of trip and can continue on her upward curve.

Form: 354-321

(2)

Marinara³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Kaiya Fraser⁽⁵⁾| T: H Spiller| OR: 83

7/2

Shaped well on her first 2 handicap outings before finding further improvement to land 12-runner event at Yarmouth (7f, good to soft) 32 days ago. Steps up in trip here but shouldn't be discounted from 6 lb higher mark, albeit draw doesn't look ideal.

Form: 52-4521

(9)

Miss Down Under^p¹¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Rob Hornby| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 75| CWS

16/1

Won here under testing conditions (10f) last September before quickly following up at Ffos Las, but there's been very little to shout about on either outing this term, folding so tamely it's possible she was amiss at Doncaster when last seen in April. Bit to prove now.

Form: 6116-38

(11)

Victoria Grove^b1⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Jefferson Smith| T: H Spiller| OR: 74

66/1

Scored at Chelmsford City in October but has been largely underwhelming since, failing to build on a slightly more encouraging effort when last of 6 in handicap (28/1) at Newmarket (12f, good to firm) 50 days ago. Connections now reach for blinkers.

Form: 188-636

(8)

Tango Tonight²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H Morrison| OR: 74

7/1

Good second here on final start in 2022 but found worryingly little after 3-month break when fourth of 6 in handicap at Newbury (8f, good) 29 days ago. Perhaps needed the run on that occasion, but others have more convincing profiles overall.

Form: 2142-84

Non-Runners

(3)

Reach³

Weight: 9-12| Age: 5

T: M & D Easterby J: Non Runner

(7)

Compliant³⁶

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: J R Fanshawe J: Callum Shepherd

(10)

Celtic Empress¹⁰

Weight: 9-3| Age: 5

T: H Main J: Tom Marquand

(6)

Mlle Chanel¹⁰

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: A M Balding J: Callum Hutchinson

Forecasts

Zarga (7/4), Marinara (7/2), Compliant (6/1), Tango Tonight (7/1), Reach (7/1), Chips And Rice (9/1), Aiming High (10/1), Mlle Chanel (10/1), Crystal Casque (11/1), Sly Madam (16/1), Miss Down Under (16/1), Thebeautifulgame (20/1), Celtic Empress (25/1), Victoria Grove (66/1)

The progressive ZARGA confirmed her previous promise when getting off the mark at Windsor last time and she's fancied to continue her upward trajectory and make it back-to-back successes. Top-weight Sly Madam arrives after several good efforts and should give another good account, whilst neither Compliant or Marinara are fully exposed and both also merit plenty of respect.