19:05 Sandown

Friday 26 July 2024

All17:5518:3019:0519:3520:1020:45

Out Of The Blue Handicap

Off time: 19:06 | Winning time: 3m 6.91s

(2)

Mr Freedom^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: T E Whelan| T: Miss S West| OR: 80

7/2

Pulled up in Swinton Hurdle at Haydock but a credit to connections and he quickly regained the winning thread fitted with cheekpieces on the level at Goodwood last month. Fair hurdles run since and he's likely to give it a good go.

Form: 11113-1

(9)

Jaramillo²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: J Mitchell| T: W Greatrex| OR: 79

22/1

Hit-and-miss over hurdles in recent times and last of 8 when last seen on the level in June 2023. Eased 6 lb but has lots to prove at present.

Form: 14751/8-

(7)

Enthrallment^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Charles Bishop| T: K Jewell| OR: 79

40/1

Sole win came when trained in Ireland in 2021. Cheekpieces on for first time, length second of 9 to Robusto in handicap (16/1) at Kempton (16f) 16 days ago and he's well weighted if building on that.

Form: 73-8902

(3)

Crescent Lake^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: T P Queally| T: G & J Moore| OR: 78| D

9/1

Triple winner during 2023 and shaped as though in reasonable nick when fourth of 8 in handicap at Epsom (12f, good, 11/1) 23 days ago. Cheekpieces back on and slight step back in trip can also help his cause. Now 2 lb below last successful mark so he's of interest.

Form: 083384

(5)

Clan Chieftain^p1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Edward Greatrex| T: R M Beckett| OR: 76

8/1

Creditable 2¼ lengths fourth of 9 to Robusto in handicap at Kempton (16f) 16 days ago, weakening when badly hampered. Cheekpieces on first time and he's not yet fully exposed.

Form: 04-8284

(1)

Enochdhu¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R Coakley| T: J G Portman| OR: 76

14/1

Off the mark for the season at Bath in April and put in another excellent shift when second at Goodwood. Too free when taking a backward step at Salisbury since, though.

Form: 4-54127

(12)

Hurtle Wallop^h²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P Cosgrave| T: J R Boyle| OR: 76

11/2

Has displayed temperament but upped his game fitted with a hood for the first time when fifth of 9 in handicap at this C&D 21 days ago, badly hampered but keeping on. Could have a bigger effort in him.

Form: 44-6U5

(8)

Damascus Steel^b¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: D Egan| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 74

14/1

Latest win at Kempton in May and followed that with a trio of placed efforts. Found good run of form coming to a halt at Chelmsford last time, though.

Form: 812320

(11)

C'mon Kenny¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 73| C

10/1

Bumper scorer who has tasted success 3 times on the Flat, showing a nice turn of foot to pounce late on at Kempton (2m) in October. Not seen to best effect back at that venue a month later and last of 8 on recent return to action.

Form: 84019-0

(13)

Naasma⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Paddy Bradley| T: P Phelan| OR: 69

7/1

Ended last season with pair of placed efforts at Epsom and returned better than ever when successful at Windsor (11.5f) in April. Solid runs in defeat since and she deserves credit for her consistency.

Form: 23-1253

(10)

Whispering Royal^p1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: A King| OR: 69

9/2

Hurdles winner for this yard and placed last twice on the level, for all he hung left under pressure over C&D 3 weeks ago. Cheekpieces may help in that regard.

Form: 433-533

(6)

Militry Decoration^t⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 8-10| J: S D Bowen⁽³⁾| T: C Poulton| OR: 67| D

40/1

Capitalised on a falling mark when overcoming a slow start to score at Southwell (12.1f) in March. Couple of heavy defeats on turf later that spring temper enthusiasm.

Form: 0-75160

Non-Runners

(14)

Robusto¹

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: Eve Johnson Houghton J: Callum Hutchinson

(4)

Teqany¹⁸

Weight: 8-12| Age: 10

T: F O'Brien J: Christian Howarth

Forecasts

Mr Freedom (7/2), Whispering Royal (9/2), Hurtle Wallop (11/2), Robusto (6/1), Naasma (7/1), Clan Chieftain (8/1), Crescent Lake (9/1), C'mon Kenny (10/1), Enochdhu (14/1), Damascus Steel (14/1), Teqany (14/1), Jaramillo (22/1), Enthrallment (40/1), Militry Decoration (40/1)

MR FREEDOM has been a splendid servant to connections and, fit from a recent spin over hurdles, he seems very likely to give another good account of himself in a staying handicap on the level. Robusto has a lower turf mark to exploit and is recent AW win confirms he's back in good order, with the likeable Naasma completing the shortlist.