Racecards
18:10 Sandown Park
Betfair Games Handicap (Class 4)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 1m 14y
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Form 3770-10
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 80
prominent, came near side straight, ridden over 2f out, no headway and weakened over 1f out
- Form 735344
- Age 8
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey Adrian Nicholls
led, came near side straight, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace
- Form 1-11061
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer Tom Dascombe
- Jockey Jim Crowley
in touch, came near side straight, effort 2f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out
- Form 72817-0
- Age 9
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer R J Price
- Jockey James Doyle
tracked leader, went far side straight, effort 2f out, no impression from over 1f out
- Form 2/4117-5
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer P J Makin
- Jockey Ted Durcan
held up, came near side straight, ridden 3f out, behind when impeded and lost action over 2f out, never dangerous
Calming Waters
199- Form 022-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer D W P Arbuthnot
- Jockey J F Egan
took keen hold, held up behind, came near side straight, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
Finsbury
12- Form 030-750
- Age 4
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer Miss J Feilden
- Jockey Amy Baker
slowly into stride, in rear, raced far side straight, drifted left over 2f out to centre, never near to leaders
- Form 50-8033
- Age 5
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer R A Farrant
- Jockey F Sweeney
towards rear, came near side straight, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon drew clear, driven out easily
- Form 0-60482
- Age 6
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer P R Chamings
- Jockey M Dwyer
took keen hold towards rear, came near side straight, headway 2f out, kept on final furlong, nearest finish
- Form 3/908-90
- Age 4
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer B J Meehan
- Jockey B Doyle
in touch, came near side straight, effort and every chance over 1f out, no chance with winner final furlong
In depth
Verdict
Sotik Star gets the vote here ahead of Bold Diktator and Cactus King. Tom Dascombe's gelding Bold Diktator won well over course and distance last time out and if in a similar frame of mind could take some stopping. However his best form has come on quick ground so underfoot conditions do not appear to be a bonus and therefore he is taken on with the selection Sotik Star. Peter Makin's colt should have come on for his recent pipe-opener on the all-weather and able to race off a lower turf mark of 76 today, he looks the one to be on. This mile trip suits and having run well with some give in the ground previously, he can get his head back in front. Calming Waters drops in trip for his handicap debut and Kerrin McEvoy looks an eye-catching jockey booking. Cactus King and Fabrian will both need to bounce back after poor runs, however the former is now in a much easier race whilst the latter should strip fitter. An intriguing contest and we will take a chance on Sotik Star to score.
Formwatch
Cactus King 14-1 (8-2) Keen, held up, never on terms, 13th of 17, 15l behind Blue Bajan (9-5) at Epsom 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Apr.
Shot To Fame (USA) 10-3 (8-12) Led for 2f, chased leader, led over 3f out, headed well inside last, kept on, 4th of 6, 1l behind Primo Way (8-1) at Ayr 1m 1f hcap (4) gs.
Bold Diktator 8-1 (11-2) Made all, hard driven final 2f, held on, all out, won at Sandown 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Apr beating General Knowledge (11-1) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Fabrian 33-1 (8-12) Pulled hard in rear, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 12, 9l behind Sound of Nature (9-4) at Leicester 1m 2f hcap (4) gf.
Sotik Star (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) Dwelt, soon chasing leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 8, 13l behind Genari (8-4) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-85 (4) fbs.
Calming Waters 4-1 (9-3) Tracked leader to over 7f out, stayed prominent, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, rallied near finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Majestic Halo (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f mdn stk (5) pol in Nov.
Finsbury 66-1 (8-6) Slowly into stride, held up, never on terms, 11th of 18, 6l behind Grizedale (8-10) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Full Victory (IRE) 2-1fav (9-4) In touch, headway 3f out, led over 1f out, all out and headed inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind The Gaikwar (8-5) at Chepstow 1m hcap (5) gd.
Desert Dreamer (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Slowly away, soon well behind, hung left and headway over 1f out, stayed on well towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 6, shd behind Cool Sands (8-11) at Southwell 6f hcap (4) fbs.
Crocodile Bay (IRE) 14-1 (8-10) Towards rear, short-lived effort over 2f out, one pace, 12th of 14, 13l behind Apex (8-4) at Bath 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gd.