16:05 Sandown

Saturday 29 August 2026

All13:4014:1514:5015:3016:0516:3517:10

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Off time: 16:07 | Winning time: 1m 31.29s

(4)

Defence Minister³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: H Al Jehani| OR: 95| D

9/4

Useful gelding who returned to win over 7f at Kempton in March. Found it harder in top Ascot handicaps on next 2 starts but back on form when seventh of 20 at Glorious Goodwood (7f, good to firm) last month. Has a bit of class for this grade.

Form: 49-1007

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(10)

Desert Shadow^v²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 94| CD

2/1

Has found his niche since visored and dropped in trip, comfortably seeing off a couple of 3-y-os over C&D (good) under Oisin Murphy 23 days ago. Even a 9 lb rise for that stylish success could prove lenient.

Form: 2-05211

(8)

Shameful⁴³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Rossa Ryan| T: C G Cox| OR: 90

10/1

Very lightly-raced 4-y-o who has been absent since shaping well (second home in his side) in the Britannia at 2025 Royal Ascot. The Clive Cox stable is in form and it'll be very interesting to see what the betting makes of this son of Shaman.

Form: 1/229-

(6)

God Of War^p1¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Marco Ghiani| T: Tom Clover| OR: 89| CD

11/2

Has yet to find his very best form this season but had an excuse (raced on unfavoured part of track) at Newmarket last time and he's 4 lb lower that when winning this race (soft ground) last year. No surprise were he to bounce back to form with a bang in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 0-44057

(3)

Storm Free³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: J Tate| OR: 89| D

12/1

Back to winning ways in 7f Southwell handicap 33 days ago and capable of giving another good account off only 3 lb higher.

Form: 21-6061

(1)

Monarch's Gold²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Levey| T: K P De Foy| OR: 91

17/2

Won a pair of novices on the all-weather last season and showed he's as good on turf when second at Chester in May. Respectable fifth of 10 in handicap back at Chester (7f, good to firm) 27 days ago.

Form: 202935

(7)

Mister Bluebird^p⁸⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: H Main| OR: 85| D

40/1

Good runner-up efforts at Musselburgh and Goodwood (both 7f, good) in the spring but off since a lesser run at Epsom in June.

Form: 38-0220

(5)

Archer Royal⁷⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: W Buick| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 90| D

11/1

No significant impact switched to handicaps this summer, although he did travel well for long way when dropped out in blinkers (discarded) over C&D 11 weeks ago. Too soon to write off for top stable.

Form: 137-708

Non-Runners

(2)

Silver Ghost³¹

Weight: 9-10| Age: 4

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: Ray Dawson

(9)

Huscal²¹

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: C Hills J: J P Spencer

Forecasts

Desert Shadow (2/1), Defence Minister (9/4), Huscal (4/1), God Of War (11/2), Monarch's Gold (17/2), Shameful (10/1), Archer Royal (11/1), Storm Free (12/1), Silver Ghost (16/1), Mister Bluebird (40/1)

DESERT SHADOW had so much to spare over C&D last time that even a 9 lb rise may not stop him. God of War catches the eye having dropped to 4 lb below the mark he defied in this race last year and is second choice. Shameful has been off the track for a long time but Clive Cox has his team in form and a good record fresh means it would be no surprise were this low-mileage 4-y-o to make an impact.