15:50 Sandown

Saturday 20 August 2022

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Kensington Gates Handicap

Off time: 15:56 | Winning time: 2m 7.27s

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Selected odds by:

(11)

Belloccio⁹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Stefano Cherchi⁽³⁾| T: D Menuisier| OR: 101

40/1

Found it tough in pattern company at 3 yrs, but better than ever when making a successful reappearance/handicap bow at Kempton (11f) in April. Subsequent effort at York was poor, though, and no easy task here under top-weight.

Form: 8676-18

(4)

Palavecino^h²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Thomas Greatrex| T: B J Meehan| OR: 100| D

40/1

Smart effort to win Lingfield handicap in January, but hasn't come close to matching that form in three subsequent starts back on turf, including when moving back into handicap company at Goodwood last month.

Form: 55-1500

(2)

Ajero^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: P J Dobbs| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 98

4/1

Useful hurdles winner who, having hit the crossbar on his first four starts on the Flat, opened his account in this sphere when bagging a 16-runner Glorious Goodwood handicap (9f, good to firm) three weeks ago. 7 lb rise tolerable and he's a must for the shortlist.

Form: 22221

(9)

Victory Chime^v³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Hector Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 97| CD

40/1

Scored twice last autumn, including in listed company at Goodwood in September, but he's barely beaten a rival home in four starts so far this season.

Form: 10-8074

(3)

Arqoob²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Watson| T: W Jarvis| OR: 93| CD

22/1

Useful sort who sprung a 33/1 surprise when striking over this C&D last month. Wasn't ideally drawn when down the field at Glorious Goodwood since, but his effort was ultimately short-lived that day and this demands a clear career-best.

Form: 353010

(8)

Dubai Horizon^p⁹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: K Stott| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 91| CD

28/1

Landed this race off a 9 lb higher mark in 2018, but hasn't tasted success since and the majority of his subsequent efforts have been essentially underwhelming.

Form: 007/005

(13)

Protagonist²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Cieren Fallon| T: W J Haggas| OR: 90| D

17/2

Multiple winner in Ireland for previous connections and built on encouraging C&D reappearance/debut for this yard when narrowly landing a four-runner Doncaster handicap (10.2f, good to firm), despite conceding first run. Major player off just a 1 lb higher mark.

Form: 1805-41

(10)

Good Birthday^v¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Joshua Bryan| T: A M Balding| OR: 89| BF| D

22/1

Not the most reliable of types nowadays, but he's talented when on-song and there wasn't much wrong with his recent effort at Doncaster (10.2f, good to firm) where he was probably sent for home a little soon. Place possibilities off an attractive mark.

Form: 633404

(17)

Migdam²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 96| BF| D

4/1

Winner of two of his three starts as a juvenile and further progress when scoring on return/handicap debut at Doncaster in June. Third of 13 in what was a pretty competitive contest at Glorious Goodwood next time and he has to be considered.

Form: 711-13

(7)

Dual Identity³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: W J Knight| OR: 86| CD

14/1

Improved performer this year, successful at Newcastle in May and quickened in good style when seeing off seven rivals over this C&D last month. This represents a step up in class, but 6 lb rise looks fair all things considered and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 212291

(5)

Croeso Cymraeg¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: William Cox| T: H J Evans| OR: 84| CD

40/1

Narrowly resumed winning ways back up in trip in a six-runner handicap at Salisbury (1½m, good to firm) last month. Lost little caste in defeat when fifth at Doncaster since and he was successful over C&D on his sole previous visit here in July 2020.

Form: 241515

(1)

Asgoodassobergets²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Saffie Osborne⁽³⁾| T: T Ward| OR: 91| D

50/1

French import who made a winning start on this side of the Channel at Wolverhampton in April. Followed that with a good effort at Royal Ascot, but he was well adrift of Migdam and Vee Sight at Glorious Goodwood.

Form: 61-120

(12)

Knight Of Honour⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 91| BF| D

11/2

Runner-up in maidens on first two starts of this season prior to winning one in pretty decisive fashion upped to this trip at Goodwood in June. Good second to Hamaki (winner again since) on subsequent handicap bow at Haydock and it's likely that he has more to offer.

Form: 3-2212

(14)

Secret Box⁴³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 81| CD

17/2

Plenty of promise in maiden/novice company and he was well on top at the finish when making a successful handicap debut over this C&D in June 2021. Subsequent absence an obvious concern, but this unexposed 4-y-o will be of strong interest if the market vibes are upbeat.

Form: 3/441-

(16)

Vee Sight²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: J Quinn| T: R M Beckett| OR: 82| C

9/2

Gelded during the winter and duly improved when making a winning reappearance/handicap debut over 9f here in June (form of that race is strong). Valid excuses when fourth at Glorious Goodwood next time (not far behind third-placed Migdam) and he remains with potential.

Form: 754-14

Non-Runners

(6)

Fantastic Fox⁶⁶

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: R Varian J: Andrea Atzeni

(15)

Yorkshire Lady¹

Weight: 8-12| Age: 4

T: M & D Easterby J: Joanna Mason

Forecasts

Migdam (4/1), Ajero (4/1), Vee Sight (9/2), Knight Of Honour (11/2), Protagonist (17/2), Secret Box (17/2), Dual Identity (14/1), Fantastic Fox (20/1), Arqoob (22/1), Good Birthday (22/1), Yorkshire Lady (25/1), Dubai Horizon (28/1), Croeso Cymraeg (40/1), Palavecino (40/1), Belloccio (40/1), Victory Chime (40/1), Asgoodassobergets (50/1)

This looks very competitive indeed, with several making plenty of appeal. Top of the list is VEE SIGHT, who scored in good style here in June and subsequently did well to finish as close as he did when fourth at Glorious Goodwood, having looked all at sea on that idiosyncratic track. He has a feather weight and while stall 16 isn't ideal, it's not insurmountable either. Ajero is feared most, while Protagonist and Knight of Honour are also high on the shortlist, along with Dual Identity.