20:30 Sandown

Wednesday 31 July 2024

All17:4518:2018:5519:2519:5520:30

Ford Explorer Handicap

Off time: 20:30 | Winning time: 1m 42.88s

(4)

Salamanca Lad^b,t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Billy Loughnane| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 72| D

7/2

2 wins from 6 runs this year. Career best when winning 8-runner handicap at Kempton (8f, 2/1) 21 days ago, just holding on. Should give his all again but didn't have much to spare last time.

Form: 436311

(7)

Hello Cotai^p¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: J P Fahy| T: A West| OR: 70

15/2

Career best when winning 8-runner handicap at Epsom (8.5f, good, 6/4) 13 days ago, well positioned.

Form: 242321

(2)

Flag Carrier^v²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Callum Shepherd| T: Brian Toomey| OR: 70

9/1

33/1 and visored for 1st time, very good second of 9 in handicap at Newbury (8f, good) 27 days ago. Well treated if he can back that up and worth taking a chance on.

Form: 888662

(5)

Unreal Connection¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 66

7/1

Good 2½ lengths third of 8 to Hello Cotai in handicap (17/2) at Epsom (8.5f, good) 13 days ago, running on. Solid claims.

Form: 48-3603

(1)

Calm Waters^p²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Gina Mangan⁽³⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 65| D

10/1

2 wins from 5 runs this year. Latest win at Ffos Las in June. 9/2, fourth of 5 in handicap at Ffos Las (8f, good) 21 days ago. Others look better treated.

Form: 9-21514

(8)

Commander Crouch¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Aidan Keeley⁽³⁾| T: J R Boyle| OR: 64

10/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2023. Last of 6 in handicap at Epsom (10.1f, good, 7/1) 13 days ago. Back down in trip. Others make more appeal.

Form: 708436

(3)

New Statesman²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Saffie Osborne| T: E Walker| OR: 64

13/2

Lightly-raced maiden. Last of 5 in handicap (3/1) at Doncaster (8f, good to soft) 20 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 0-845

(10)

Monks Mead^p1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: George Rooke| T: M D I Usher| OR: 64| D

9/2

7/2, creditable second of 12 in handicap at Bath (8f, good to firm) 14 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Should continue to give a good account.

Form: 362422

(6)

Ottoman Force⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Connor Beasley| T: Darryll Holland| OR: 63

40/1

Seventh of 8 in handicap at Lingfield (8f, AW, 80/1) 7 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 9-45787

(9)

Never Mind Me^v1⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Watson| T: A M Balding| OR: 61

12/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 7/1, sixth of 9 in handicap at Salisbury (7f, good) 45 days ago. Visor on 1st time. Needs the headgear to perk him up.

Form: 6-5726

Forecasts

Salamanca Lad (7/2), Monks Mead (9/2), New Statesman (13/2), Unreal Connection (7/1), Hello Cotai (15/2), Flag Carrier (9/1), Calm Waters (10/1), Commander Crouch (10/1), Never Mind Me (12/1), Ottoman Force (40/1)

FLAG CARRIER's overall profile isn't wholly convincing but he is well handicapped and a visor had a positive effect when second last time, so he's worth a chance to go one better. Last-time-out winners Hello Cotai and Salamanca Lad both strike as feasible dangers.