20:10 Sandown

Friday 26 July 2024

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

Cafe Del Mar Handicap

Off time: 20:10 | Winning time: 1m 43.36s

(9)

Love De Vega⁷^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Vincent C Y Ho| T: C Johnston| OR: 82| D

4/1

Became the second next-time-out winner from just 3 runners to emerge from the race at Haydock, when quickening up nicely to defeat 6-rivals at Pontefract (1m) 7 days ago. Had plenty in hand then and he's a player wisely turned out under a penalty.

Form: 503391

(5)

Indemnity^p1²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 85| BF| D

11/4

Had plenty to spare when justifying cramped odds in 10-runner Nottingham maiden (8.3f) on penultimate start. Far from disgraced when 4¼ lengths fifth of 12 to Whitcombe Rockstar in handicap at Kempton (1m) 22 days ago and cheekpieces reached for now. Possibilities.

Form: 22-5215

(10)

Whitcombe Rockstar^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: D Egan| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 84| C| D

10/1

Course winner last summer who has improved plenty back on all-weather over 1m at Kempton this term, making it 3 wins from his last 4 starts 22 days ago. Handicapper applies further pressure but he may not have reached his limit yet on that evidence.

Form: 97-1101

(7)

Game Set⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: R Kingscote| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 82

9/2

Won 2 of his 3 starts as a juvenile and ran better than on return when fourth of 11 in handicap at Newbury (7f, good to firm, 14/1) 43 days ago. Eased 2 lb ahead of this and return to 1m may well help.

Form: 119-74

(4)

Good Karma²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Darragh Keenan| T: James Owen| OR: 82

7/1

Low-mileage 4-y-o who bettered previous efforts this season when keeping on fourth of 10 in handicap at Epsom (7f) 23 days ago. Changed hands for 55,000 gns since but he will need to settle better stepping back up to 1m.

Form: 10-9784

(3)

Plantadream¹⁵⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-11| J: Charles Bishop| T: K Jewell| OR: 80| D

28/1

Very lightly raced in recent seasons but confirmed he still has plenty to offer on AW earlier this year, second of 11 in handicap at Kempton (1m) in February, conceding first run. Has been absent since so the betting may prove a useful guide here.

Form: 87/6-482

(2)

Lyndon B^p¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: S D Bowen⁽³⁾| T: J L Flint| OR: 78| CD

7/1

Ridden closer to the pace than usual and turned in best effort of the season when fourth of 11 in handicap at Windsor (8.1f, good) 11 days ago, no extra only late on. In the mix with a repeat.

Form: 78-6054

(6)

Lessay²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Hutchinson⁽³⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 81

15/2

Winner on debut at Kempton (1m) in December and has run respectably in handful of starts since, gelded prior to finishing fourth of 5 in handicap here (7f) 3 weeks ago. Present mark demands that bit more but takes on his elders for the first time now.

Form: 1-22744

Non-Runners

(8)

Island Bandit⁴⁹

Weight: 9-11| Age: 5

T: H Main J: T E Whelan

(1)

War Chant²⁷

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: Rae Guest J: Callum Shepherd

Forecasts

Indemnity (11/4), Love De Vega (4/1), Game Set (9/2), Lyndon B (7/1), Good Karma (7/1), War Chant (7/1), Lessay (15/2), Whitcombe Rockstar (10/1), Island Bandit (20/1), Plantadream (28/1)

LOVE DE VEGA proved at least as good as ever when making his first start at 1m a winning one at Pontefract last week and, the manner in which he quickened clear suggests a 5 lb penalty may not be enough to prevent another bold showing. War Chant is another in-form sort and is feared, with Indemnity and Whitcombe Rockstar others to consider.