18:45 Sandown

Sunday 20 August 2023

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

Sky Bet Sunday Series Stayers' Handicap

Off time: 18:46 | Winning time: 3m 4.63s

(4)

Saratoga Gold^b³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Rob Hornby| T: C Hills| OR: 95| D

14/1

Five-year-old who has built up a good strike rate and took his form up a notch when running out a comfortable winner at Kempton (1½m) last month. Possibly unsuited by soft ground when below form at Ascot since and he's now back up in distance.

Form: 14-3U16

(6)

Omniscient¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 94

10/3

Progressive on the whole and shaped encouragingly when seventh of 19 to Calling The Wind in the Northumberland Place on his reappearance, fading only in the closing stages. Didn't look comfortable on heavy ground at Goodwood a fortnight ago and better expected this time.

Form: 3181-78

(5)

Rhythmic Intent²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S C Williams| OR: 89

8/1

Useful handicapper who doesn't look quite the force of old but his mark reflects that and he produced his best effort of the campaign when third at Yarmouth 3 weeks ago. Enters calculations from the same mark.

Form: 3-64643

(8)

Traila⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Shepherd| T: D M Simcock| OR: 87

9/1

Useful form without winning for his current yard in 2022, most notably going close off a 1 lb higher mark at Yarmouth in September. Low-key start to 2023 but bounced back to form when a running-on second at Newmarket in June (14f).

Form: 24-6972

(11)

Diamond Bay³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: T Ward| OR: 87| D

17/2

Likeable type who capitalised on a handy mark when scoring at York in June. Unable to land a telling blow in a deeper handicap at Newmarket last month but it was a fair effort, nonetheless.

Form: 437315

(10)

Crescent Lake³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: T P Queally| T: G & J Moore| OR: 85| D

17/2

Better that ever for current yard this year, winning 3 times and he did very little wrong when runner-up at Ascot a month ago. Nudged up 1 lb but he's versatile regarding ground and seems sure to give it another good go.

Form: 141412

(9)

Blow Your Horn^p⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 82| BF| D

9/1

Completed a turf hat-trick in June. Might have found a busy spell catching up with him when only mid-division in the Northumberland Vase at Newcastle (2m) in early July and freshened up since.

Form: 441118

(13)

Pons Aelius¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Joanna Mason| T: C Johnston| OR: 82| BF

9/1

Successful 4 times during a busy 2022, culminating in success in London Stayers' Final in December. As good as ever when also winning 7-runner handicap at Goodwood (16f, good to firm) in June and wasn't below that form by much when fourth back on the AW 11 days ago.

Form: 352214

(7)

Alpine Stroll^b⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Connor Planas⁽³⁾| T: E De Giles| OR: 75| D

17/2

Confirmed himself back at the top of his game when second of 8 in C&D handicap in June. May have been undone by slower ground when below that level at Ayr since and he's likely to give it a good go from the front.

Form: 398224

(3)

Dark Island⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: K T O'Neill| T: H Main| OR: 73

11/2

AW winner who produced his best effort on turf when second of 7 at Windsor last month (11.5f). Was seen to maximum effect on that occasion and this is a deeper race tackling a new trip.

Form: 905-532

Non-Runners

(12)

Apparate²⁹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 7

T: J A Osborne J: Saffie Osborne

(1)

On To Victory¹⁵¹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 9

T: A King J: Tom Marquand

(2)

Secret Shadow¹

Weight: 9-3| Age: 5

T: P F Nicholls J: Hayley Turner

Forecasts

Omniscient (10/3), Dark Island (11/2), Rhythmic Intent (8/1), Diamond Bay (17/2), Alpine Stroll (17/2), Crescent Lake (17/2), Traila (9/1), Pons Aelius (9/1), Blow Your Horn (9/1), Secret Shadow (12/1), Saratoga Gold (14/1), On To Victory (16/1), Apparate (16/1)

This looks extremely competitive with CRESCENT LAKE just about the most persuasive option on the back of an excellent second to one destined for pattern company at Ascot last month. Drying ground would help both Omniscient and Saratoga Gold and they head a lengthy list of dangers.