July 24 / 16.30 Sandown

16.30

Good

Aspen Insurance Handicap (A Jockey Club Grassroots Middle Distance Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £6019.1
  • 1m 1f 209y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Aspen Insurance Handicap (A Jockey Club Grassroots Middle Distance Series Qualifier)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: -86717 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Multiple winner on French soil; ran according to market expectations (rank outsider of seven) last month on British debut; best watched unless the betting makes stronger noises.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(1)

21st May 2026

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

20:40 Chepstow

Alcaraz

9st 9lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: George Baker

Seven-time winner in France; 0-5 for Tom Dascombe but his second at Newbury (1m2f, good to soft) in September was an eyebrow-raiser, looking all over the winner before being claimed late; considered on this stable debut/reappearance.

4/1

2

(8)

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

16:50 Newbury

Alcaraz

9st 11lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Tom Dascombe

7-26 when trained in France and Spain, including soft-ground wins; new yard for last three outings, with front-running second at Sandown (1m2f, good) and Newbury (1m2f, good to soft) on last two occasions, so he's in the mix.

9/1

2nd

2

(3)

19th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

17:15 Newbury

Alcaraz

9st 13lb

J: Tyrese Cameron

T: Tom Dascombe

Multiple winner on French soil; ran to market expectations (rank outsider of seven) in June on British debut but it was a different story, having attracted support, when second of eight at Sandown (1m2f, good) the following month; winner went in again next time; respected.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: 41904/ D

Last run: 670 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Soft-ground winner in 2023 for Ralph Beckett; failed to transfer that form to hurdles last year for Anthony Honeyball; market instructive on debut for Marcus Tregoning.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

(7)

12th May 2026

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 4

19:20 Lingfield (AW)

Baltic Voyage

9st 8lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Marcus Tregoning

1lb below sole winning mark, but very lightly raced since joining this yard and failed to beat a rival at Newbury (1m1f, good) last month; probably best watched on AW debut.

33/1

14th

10

(14)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

16:55 Newbury

Baltic Voyage

9st 5lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Marcus Tregoning

1-10 over 2022 and 2023 for Ralph Beckett, with a soft-ground win over 1m2f, but modest over hurdles in 2024; fourth of eight for new yard in a 1m2f handicap last July was a partial revival but that was his only race last year and he needs to build markedly on it; tongue-tie (worn as a hurdler) returns.

20/1

3

(2)

24th Jul 2025

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 4

16:30 Sandown

Baltic Voyage

9st 9lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Marcus Tregoning

Soft-ground winner in 2023 for Ralph Beckett; failed to transfer that form to hurdles last year for Anthony Honeyball; market instructive on debut for Marcus Tregoning.

7/1

Form: 10-917 CD

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 8lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Lingfield win showed he's still fairly useful aged 11 but that is flanked by comfortable defeats; therefore not entirely solid on 2025 form and his old legs may now lack consistency.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(7)

24th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 2f 43y

Class 5

17:03 Doncaster

Croeso Cymraeg

9st 13lb

J: Archie Young

T: James Evans

Veteran who was successful in this race last year but was in slightly better form at the time (completed an October double); that said, wasn't entirely disgraced when in the frame on latest start.

10/1

4th

1

(10)

9th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 37y

Class 5

16:12 Bath

Croeso Cymraeg

9st 12lb

J: Christian Howarth

T: James Evans

Veteran who has lost his way since winning over this far at Lingfield in June (good to soft) but he is dropping back from Class 4 level.

20/1

4

(1)

12th Sep 2025

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 4

17:25 Sandown

Croeso Cymraeg

9st 13lb

J: Christian Howarth

T: James Evans

Veteran who showed a fire still burned when winning a six-runner handicap at Lingfield (1m2f, good to soft) in June; third to Beach Point over C&D next time but his form has dipped on his last two starts; rain will help but vulnerable to less-exposed sorts.

33/1

Form: 6-6304

Last run: 43 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
The least exposed contender, having raced only five times, and is bred to do better still; rallying fourth at Yarmouth (1m) most recently and looks interesting back over 1m2f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(3)

28th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 23y

Class 5

15:53 Yarmouth

Man Of Desert

9st 6lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Chris Dwyer

Ten-race maiden who has form figures of 0487057 in handicaps; had some traffic issues when prominent in the market at Kempton last week but this is competitive back on turf and he still has stamina to prove at this trip; others preferred.

11/2

7th

11

(3)

20th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Man Of Desert

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Chris Dwyer

Nine-race maiden who has form figures of 048705 in handicaps and he finished behind two of today's rivals over C&D two weeks ago; continues to drop down the weights but he needs to raise his game.

9/1

5th

4

(2)

4th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:20 Kempton (AW)

Man Of Desert

9st 6lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Chris Dwyer

Eight-race maiden who has shown ability on a couple of occasions; his last three efforts leave plenty to be desired though, including on his Yarmouth reappearance (7f, good to firm) 13 days ago; look elsewhere.

10/1

Form: 121-08

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 1lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Five-time AW winner at up to 1m4f; seemed unsuited by the drop back to 8.5f at Epsom most recently but remains a maiden on turf and current mark looks difficult.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(14)

12th Sep 2025

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 4

17:25 Sandown

Silver Nightfall

9st 7lb

J: Tyler Heard

T: Jim & Suzi Best

Five-time AW winner, the latest in December (1m3f, Polytrack) off this mark; her turf form is less convincing though and she needs to raise her game.

33/1

1

(4)

11th Aug 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 5

17:22 Kempton (AW)

Silver Nightfall

10st 2lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Jim & Suzi Best

Dual winner here, the latest over this trip from 2lb lower last December; modest in three outings since returning in May, but the return of the visor looks a positive.

12/1

6

(6)

24th Jul 2025

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 4

16:30 Sandown

Silver Nightfall

9st 1lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Jim & Suzi Best

Five-time AW winner at up to 1m4f; seemed unsuited by the drop back to 8.5f at Epsom most recently but remains a maiden on turf and current mark looks difficult.

8/1

Form: -65170

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Record for current stable is far from solid, notwithstanding an AW success; has failed to match that form in two subsequent runs and it's three years since sole turf win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

13

(1)

27th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:25 Kempton (AW)

Forca Timao

9st 4lb

J: Matthew Lloyd Slater

T: Mark Pattinson

Outsider of four when belatedly doubling his tally at Southwell last April (1m3f); hit the frame last two starts (1m2f) but not sure dropping back to 1m will see him play a bigger role this evening; Penfolds Grange looks connections' best hope.

20/1

4th

10

(9)

20th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:25 Lingfield (AW)

Forca Timao

8st 9lb

J: Tyler Heard

T: Mark Pattinson

On a losing run and he's yet to hit top form this season, going keenly when a fading fourth of 11 over C&D in February; needs to take a step forward.

20/1

Form: 5042-8

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 11lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Gained sole success in soft-ground novice event two years ago; ran according to market expectations (rank outsider of eight) this month on debut for new yard; opposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

(11)

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 3f 179y

Class 6

13:20 Leicester

Arkendale

11st 1lb

J: Mr Lucas Murphy

T: Barry Brennan

Rediscovered some form when a front-running third at Epsom (1m2f, good to soft) before never dangerous on AW earlier this month; has since changed hands and left Billy Aprahamian; acts on soft but not proven over this far.

14/1

10th

2

(11)

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 3f 179y

Class 6

13:20 Leicester

Arkendale

11st 1lb

J: Mr Lucas Murphy

T: Barry Brennan

Rediscovered some form when a front-running third at Epsom (1m2f, good to soft) before never dangerous on AW earlier this month; has since changed hands and left Billy Aprahamian; acts on soft but not proven over this far.

14/1

Form: 224229 D BF

Last run: 15 days

W: 8st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Disappointing favourite returned to AW last time; generally consistent (22422) on turf otherwise this season and gained his only wins, both last year, in this sphere; rebound likely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(6)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

16:18 Newmarket

Beach Point

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: William Knight

Two Yarmouth runs over 1m2f in April tie in closely with A Major Payne, including when a whisker behind that rival in third a fortnight ago; shouldn't be much between the pair again.

5/1

3rd

5

(4)

30th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 23y

Class 4

16:25 Yarmouth

Beach Point

9st 3lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Knight

Won at Sandown (1m2f) last summer in first two starts after cheekpieces were refitted; respectable in two of four starts since, including over C&D recently when finishing on the heels of A Major Payne; should be competitive.

3/1

4th

9

(11)

11th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 23y

Class 4

15:42 Yarmouth

Beach Point

9st 3lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Knight

Successful in first two starts after cheekpieces were refitted, at Sandown (1m2f; good and soft) last summer, but his form went to pot in two of three runs after; needs to return in much better form.

10/1

Non-runners

Sweet Reward

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £13.00
Straight Forecast £14.27
Tricast £80.05
Trifecta £69.10

Selections

POSTDATA:

Beach Point

SPOTLIGHT:

Man Of Desert

Daily Mail:

Sweet Reward

TOPSPEED:

Arkendale

Daily Record:

Baltic Voyage

RP RATINGS:

Man Of Desert

The Times:

Man Of Desert

Daily Mirror:

Man Of Desert

NEWMARKET:

Beach Point

Telegraph:

Beach Point

The Guardian:

Beach Point

D Express:

Beach Point

The Star:

Beach Point

The Sun:

Sweet Reward