18:53 Sandown

Friday 25 July 2025

All17:4518:1818:5319:2820:0320:38

Close Brothers Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 18:55 | Winning time: 3m 6.43s

(1)

No More Bolero^p¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Laura Pearson| T: James Owen| OR: 78

80/1

Again ran a long way below his German form when last of 7 in handicap (50/1) at Newmarket (12f, good) 13 days ago.

Form: 1054/97

(7)

Macari⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Rose Dawes⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss S West| OR: 78| D

9/1

Latest win at Salisbury in May but looked stretched by this trip in a more truly-run race when down the field at Goodwood (14f, good to firm) 42 days ago.

Form: 1-53150

(9)

Cock And Bull²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: K Shoemark| T: M L W Bell| OR: 77| CD

4/1

C&D winner. Latest win at Nottingham in April. Ran too badly to be true back on all-weather when last of 10 in handicap at Chelmsford City (16f) 24 days ago.

Form: 3-61470

(8)

Calvert¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Jim Crowley| T: R A Teal| OR: 77

3/1

Confirmed return to form when second of 9 in handicap (5/1) at Ascot (14.2f, firm) 13 days ago. Ought to remain competitive.

Form: 275-022

(2)

Red Flyer³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: D Egan| T: K Jewell| OR: 74

12/1

Fourteen runs since last win in 2024. 6/1, creditable 3 lengths third of 7 to Curran in handicap at Newmarket (14f, good to firm) 34 days ago. Can remain competitive.

Form: 47-3263

(5)

Curran⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Rob Hornby| T: C Johnston| OR: 72| D

5/1

Latest win at Newmarket in June and quickly returned to form when second of 8 in handicap at Haydock (14f, good, 4/1) 7 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 911362

(6)

Moel Arthur^t⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: N Callan| T: B R Johnson| OR: 70| BF

16/1

Latest win at Lingfield in January. 13/8, good second of 6 in handicap at Kempton (16f) 44 days ago, clear of rest. Good claims if transferring that form back to turf.

Form: 149372

(3)

Al Khawaneej River⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Saffie Osborne| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 66

5/2

Placed both starts this season, latest when second in 11-runner handicap at Goodwood (14f, good to firm, 15/2) 42 days ago. Shortlist material.

Form: 1343-32

Non-Runners

(4)

Percy Shelley¹³

Weight: 9-10| Age: 6

T: James Owen J: Mason Paetel

Forecasts

Al Khawaneej River (5/2), Percy Shelley (11/4), Calvert (3/1), Cock And Bull (4/1), Curran (5/1), Macari (9/1), Red Flyer (12/1), Moel Arthur (16/1), No More Bolero (80/1)

AL KHAWANEEJ RIVER matched his reappearance form when second at Goodwood 6 weeks ago and remains of interest, particularly as he's still unexposed at the trip. Percy Shelley is yet to win in Britain but is knocking firmly on the door, with Curran also of interest having got back on track at Haydock last week.