15:00 Sandown

Saturday 2 September 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3816:1016:4517:20

Virgin Bet Handicap

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 2m 9.47s

(6)

Certain Lad³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: George Bass⁽³⁾| T: J Channon| OR: 101| D

22/1

Group 3 winner in 2020 and still capable of very useful form. Latest sixth of 11 at Yarmouth was respectable and being dropped another 2 lb since can only help.

Form: 3-73006

(14)

Eagle's Way³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: S W Kelly| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 99| BF| D

8/1

Most progressive last summer, winning all 4 starts, and resumed after 10 months off with a promising second of 11 at Yarmouth in July. Presumably found the run coming too soon when only seventh of 15 at Goodwood 5 days later. Remains capable of better but the outside stall is potentially awkward.

Form: 1111-27

(8)

Gaassee^t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 99| BF| D

11/2

Back on the up when fourth in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock on penultimate start. Didn't find much for pressure when filling the same position in a 7-runner Ascot handicap since but he still rates one of the more likely types here.

Form: 30-7044

(11)

Lord Protector³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 98| CD

10/3

Added to his very good C&D record when seeing off 12 rivals in another Class 2 event in July. Shaped as if still in good form when sixth of 15 at Glorious Goodwood and much respected back here for a yard going great guns.

Form: 798216

(2)

Groundbreaker^t⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Watson| T: A M Balding| OR: 97| BF| DWS

14/1

Showed he retains his ability when fourth on his Chester reappearance in May but absent since a lesser run at Chelmsford 4 weeks later, not helping his cause by hanging badly left. Bounce back needed after wind surgery.

Form: 4234-48

(1)

Andaleep^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: R Kingscote| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 93| CD

14/1

Winner of 5 handicaps last season, including over C&D, and took form up a further notch when a decisive winner at York in July. Type to bounce back from a rare poor run at Ascot last month.

Form: 342140

(7)

Stay Well^h¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H Morrison| OR: 93| D

14/1

Returned to form back on AW when third at Kempton (1½m) in June. Not so good on next 2 outings but back on song when fourth of 11 at Windsor (11.5f, good to firm) 16 days ago. Drops back down in trip now.

Form: 5-83004

(3)

Great Max²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: K Stott| T: M L W Bell| OR: 92

40/1

Useful performer for Michael O'Callaghan last year. Made a positive start for Alice Haynes when fourth in the Spring Cup at Newbury (1m) but not so good in 3 outings since and has changed yards again.

Form: 59-4006

(12)

Educator^b⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: W J Haggas| OR: 91| D

9/1

Consistent in defeat this season, including a creditable seventh of 14 in 1½m York handicap last week. First-time blinkers worn on that occasion are retained now dropping back in trip.

Form: 0-83237

(4)

Kitsune Power^b²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: R Varian| OR: 90| D

25/1

Progressed quite well at 3 but he has just one creditable effort to show from his 4 outings this season, blinkers making no difference last time. Below his last winning mark but need to see more.

Form: 10-9307

(10)

Dual Identity²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Marco Ghiani| T: W J Knight| OR: 87| CD

9/2

Improved throughout 2022, including second in this race and third (first home in his group) in Cambridgeshire final outing. Probably in better heart than his 2023 form figures suggest and starting to look well handicapped.

Form: 3-74500

(5)

Dashing Roger⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: W Stone| OR: 85| C

40/1

Very useful handicapper at his peak. Seemingly not so good these days but his mark reflects that and he was a close third over this trip at Chester in May. Out of his depth in Ascot Group 2 latest.

Form: 700-537

(9)

Skysail^p³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: T E Whelan| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 88

22/1

Showed much improved form in first-time blinkers when making a successful handicap debut at Goodwood (1m) on his reappearance. Also a good second at Ascot (1m again) in July but needs to shrug off a lesser run back at Goodwood. First attempt at 1¼m.

Form: 10-1527

(13)

Baltic Voyage³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: J F Egan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 86| D

12/1

Got back on the up with his breakthrough win in 8-runner handicap at Ripon (1¼m, soft) in July. Found himself too far back at Glorious Goodwood next time and best forgiven that.

Form: 44-8419

Forecasts

Lord Protector (10/3), Dual Identity (9/2), Gaassee (11/2), Eagle's Way (8/1), Educator (9/1), Baltic Voyage (12/1), Stay Well (14/1), Andaleep (14/1), Groundbreaker (14/1), Certain Lad (22/1), Skysail (22/1), Kitsune Power (25/1), Dashing Roger (40/1), Great Max (40/1)

A chance is taken on DUAL IDENTITY who was runner-up in this race off a similar mark last year and is probably in better form than his finishing positions at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood might suggest. Lord Protector has 2 wins and a close second to show for his 3 previous outings over C&D so he's an obvious threat for in-form Ralph Beckett. Gaassee and Eagle's Way, assuming stall 14 isn't too much of an inconvenience, are others to consider.