13:45 Sandown

Sunday 2 August 2020

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:5015:2015:55

Oxshott Handicap

Off time: 13:46 | Winning time: 1m 30.03s

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Selected odds by:

(3)

Pinnata^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Marco Ghiani⁽⁵⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 75| D

13/2

Struck in a small-field affair on the AW at Kempton (1m, Class 3) in February, but less proficient on turf (is rated 19lb lower); has twice done too much from the front (over 1m) since returning from lockdown; unlikely.

Form: 0-81509

(9)

Colonel Whitehead^t¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Ellie Mackenzie⁽⁷⁾| T: H Main| OR: 76| CD

6/1

Won twice over 5f on the AW (Chelmsford and Newcastle) during the course of 2019; stayed on stoutly from off the pace (on his first attempt at this trip) to spring a 22-1 surprise over C&D ten days ago; 6lb higher.

Form: 710-561

(4)

Claudius Secundus^p¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Cieren Fallon⁽³⁾| T: J Tate| OR: 75

9/1

Broadly consistent in all four starts (2273); was short of room at a crucial stage on handicap debut when finishing a keeping on third to Gypsy Whisper over C&D (good to firm) ten days ago; rates as one of the likeliest candidates.

Form: 2273

(11)

With Promise²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S W Kelly| T: W J Knight| OR: 75| D

18/1

Shamardal colt (100,000gns yearling); made a winning debut for David Lanigan in a muddling 7f novice at Yarmouth (good to firm); ran okay (sixth) on first start for William Knight at Salisbury latest - form tested earlier by Fair Praise (1.10pm).

Form: 1-6

(10)

Penpal⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Rob Hornby| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 75| D

28/1

Pipped Hughie Morrison's Elmetto on the post when breaking her maiden at Kempton (7f) in November; soon beaten (22-1) in a competitive Class 4 contest on handicap debut at Newmarket (7f, good); this looks more realistic.

Form: 31-8

(1)

What An Angel¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: M Crehan⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 74

5/1

Still seeking that ever elusive breakthrough win (0-11); wasn't too far away (fifth to Eshaasy) in a Class 3 C&D handicap on his penultimate start; was done no favours by the rain-softened ground at Haydock (1m) subsequently.

Form: 0-33256

(7)

Don't Tell Claire¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: L P Keniry| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 74

18/1

Twice finished runner-up on the AW (Chelmsford and Wolverhampton) before again taking minor honours in a Yarmouth fillies' maiden (7f, good to firm) latest; others make more appeal for win purposes; handicap debut.

Form: 0-223

(8)

Tambourine Girl^b1³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Adam J McNamara| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 73| BF

16/1

Narrow winner of a 6f fillies' maiden at Kempton last October; has raced lazily on both subsequent starts, including at Windsor latest; no great surprise to see that the blinkers are now applied; first attempt at 7f.

Form: 231-68

(5)

Alfie Solomons^b¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: James Doyle| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 67

15/2

Poor win ratio (1-24); closing third (beaten 2½L) to shock winner Colonel Whitehead over C&D latest; James Doyle takes over in the saddle from fellow high profile jockey William Buick; stablemate of Dutch Story.

Form: 8-37503

(6)

Dutch Story^b1¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: R Havlin| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 66| BF| D

12/1

Versatile in terms of underfoot conditions (winner on both good to firm and heavy ground); was narrowly beaten by Ginger Max at Yarmouth (7f) in early June; 2lb higher in newly-applied headgear.

Form: 2821-27

(2)

Blessed¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: David Probert| T: H Candy| OR: 70

3/1

Steadily progressive (race by race) and made a good fist of things in going down by 1¼L to Wilfy over C&D (good) 17 days ago; another similar effort (from a 1lb higher mark) should see him positively involved.

Form: 794-42

Forecasts

Blessed (3/1), What An Angel (5/1), Colonel Whitehead (6/1), Pinnata (13/2), Alfie Solomons (15/2), Claudius Secundus (9/1), Dutch Story (12/1), Tambourine Girl (16/1), Don't Tell Claire (18/1), With Promise (18/1), Penpal (28/1)

There's no shortage of recent C&D form to dissect in what is essentially a very difficult affair. Colonel Whitehead sprung a 22-1 surprise when tackling this trip for the first time ten days ago, but should once more have the measure of the difficult to win with Alfie Solomons (third) despite the subsequent 6lb weights rise. The unexposed Claudius Secundus is thought unlikely to be too far away under the talented 3lb claimer Cieren Fallon, but the steadily-progressive BLESSED could feasibly have a slight edge from the very foot of the weights.