15:55 Brighton

Wednesday 7 August 2024

All14:2514:5515:2515:5516:2516:55

Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Brighton Mile Challenge Handicap

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 1m 37.21s

(5)

Sandy Paradise^b⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Ethan Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 82| D

16/1

Latest win at Chelmsford City in April. Very good third of 12 in handicap (10/1) at this course (7f, good to firm) 43 days ago. Looks vulnerable under top-weight.

Form: 221583

(9)

Lunatick²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Billy Loughnane| T: H Morrison| OR: 76| BF| CD

7/1

Unreliable individual. Respectable fifth of 11 in handicap (3/1) at Windsor (8.1f, good) 23 days ago. Sole win from 14 career starts was gained in a match over this C&D and, though feasibly treated, he is probably worth taking on.

Form: 320-255

(7)

Dream Of Mischief²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Aidan Keeley⁽³⁾| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 76| D

5/1

12/1, creditable third of 10 in handicap at Epsom (7f, good) 20 days ago. Good second over 7f here on penultimate start, too, and likely to make his presence felt.

Form: 0-20323

(8)

Optiva Star²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Joe Leavy⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 73| CD

16/1

C&D winner. Fourteenth of 16 in handicap (40/1) at Ascot (7f, good) 25 days ago, having hopeless task from position. Needs to bounce back but, armed with form figures of 1112 over 7f/1m at this course, there's good reason to believe he will do just that.

Form: 20-3030

(1)

Charming Whisper²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: S D Bowen⁽³⁾| T: P J McBride| OR: 80| D

15/8

Two wins from 4 runs this year. Latest win at Yarmouth in June. 22/1, very good fourth of 13 in handicap at Newmarket (8f, good) 25 days ago, caught further back than ideal. Very much of interest off the same mark.

Form: 44-7114

(3)

Drink Dry^p²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: P J Dobbs| T: M Botti| OR: 78| D

10/1

Winner at Beverley in June. 8/1, bit below form fourth of 9 in handicap at York (7.9f, good to soft) 26 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 643214

(2)

Uncle Dick^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Oliver Carmichael⁽⁷⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 71| CD

28/1

Six-time C&D winner. 3 wins from 13 runs this year, the latest here in July. 8/1, respectable fourth of 8 in handicap at Epsom (8.5f, good) 20 days ago, left poorly placed. Each-way squeak.

Form: 625124

(4)

Buy The Dip²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: P Cosgrave| T: J R Boyle| OR: 67| BF| CD

13/2

C&D winner. Latest win at Lingfield in June. Third of 5 in handicap at Lingfield (7f, good, 11/10) 2 days ago.

Form: 211433

(6)

Blenheim Star^h²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Brandon Wilkie⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Knight| OR: 70| CD

8/1

C&D winner. 3 wins from 7 runs this year, the latest gained here in July. 11/4, creditable second of 8 in handicap at Epsom (8.5f, good) 20 days ago, caught further back than ideal. Leading contender.

Form: 711712

Forecasts

Charming Whisper (15/8), Dream Of Mischief (5/1), Buy The Dip (13/2), Lunatick (7/1), Blenheim Star (8/1), Drink Dry (10/1), Optiva Star (16/1), Sandy Paradise (16/1), Uncle Dick (28/1)

None of these can be safely discounted but CHARMING WHISPER is nevertheless a standout contender on the back of an eye-catching effort in a pretty valuable Class 2 handicap at Newmarket's July meeting. This 3-y-o is clearly on the up (winner at Newbury and Yarmouth in June) and he may well have more to offer. Optiva Star isn't the most solid of these by any means but he has to be of interest given his stellar course record, while Blenheim Star and Drink Dry also merit serious respect.