April 28 / 13.15 Sandown

13.15

Soft

bet365 Handicap

  • Prize money: £12885
  • 0m 5f 10y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
bet365 Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 14026- D

Last run: 146 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
2-10 last term; ran well in the Super Sprint and Listed/Group races; neck second to Betweenthesticks at York (good to soft; now 3lb higher) on sole handicap attempt; useful sort who can't be dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

4

(1)

26th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:20 York

Looking For Lynda

11st 10lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Craig Lidster

Well handicapped on last year's C&D form for Karl Burke but refused to race in April on final outing for that yard and down the field over C&D on recent stable debut, when again awkward at the start; risks attached.

33/1

14th

6

(6)

11th Jul 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

17:07 York

Looking For Lynda

9st 10lb

J: Sam James

T: Craig Lidster

Beaten 16 times since his C&D win in September 2023; has often run well in defeat, including here, but he put a major black mark on his record at Nottingham in April, belatedly leaving the stalls but downing tools and bucking around immediately afterwards; the combination of a subsequent stable switch/wind surgery/change of headgear could all be beneficial and there's no doubt he has the ability to win a race like this; risky but feared.

10/1

1

(6)

9th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 8y

Class 4

14:35 Nottingham

Looking For Lynda

9st 10lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

mounted in chute, refused to race, soon pulled up

5/2

Abandoned

Form: 1479- D

Last run: 251 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Raced only on good to firm; made a winning debut last April then ran creditably in the Norfolk; finished last in both subsequent runs but now drops back in class and has shown he's highly effective when fresh.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(4)

28th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

18:20 Goodwood

Brave Nation

9st 10lb

J: Kieren Fox

T: Michael Attwater

Well suited by 5f on quick ground; two runs for new stable, finishing third at Sandown last month before winning at Newmarket three weeks ago; 3lb rise still leaves him feasibly weighted.

5/1

1st

2

(2)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:50 Newmarket (July)

Brave Nation

9st 11lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Michael Attwater

6yo who is well handicapped on last season's best efforts for Michael Bell and made quite an encouraging start for his new yard when third of seven at Sandown (5f, good to firm) 16 days ago, particularly as he was tight for room against the rail; given a chance to build on that with Billy Loughnane taking the reins this time.

5/2

3rd

2

(6)

23rd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 10y

Class 4

13:55 Sandown

Brave Nation

9st 10lb

J: Kieren Fox

T: Michael Attwater

6yo who is well handicapped on last season's best efforts for Michael Bell; however, it was a winless campaign and he failed to threaten at Yarmouth in April on his sole run this year; changed hands for 18,500gns last month and he needs to get back on track on this stable debut.

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: 21-232 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Below par over C&D when last seen on turf; thoroughly consistent over 5f/6f on AW, most recently a close second at Kempton last week; good chance off same mark, provided he transfers the form back to grass.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(3)

5th Sep 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

17:10 Ascot

Rocking Ends

9st 2lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Tom Clover

Back to winning ways in a small-field Class 4 handicap at Newmarket (5f, good to firm) in July; he has come up short twice since and looks vulnerable for win purposes.

16/1

5th

4

(4)

16th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 3y

Class 2

17:45 Pontefract

Rocking Ends

9st 6lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Tom Clover

With this visor back on he won at Newmarket (5f, good to firm) last month, landing that handicap for the third year in succession; not beaten far when fifth of 13 at Ascot (5f, good to firm) since but he's never won off a mark this high and there's a suspicion he'll again be vulnerable.

11/2

Abandoned

Form: 01110- CD

Last run: 209 days

W: 8st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Form dipped in 6f sales race on final 2yo start (gelded since); largely progressive over 5f otherwise, including a record of 3-3 in handicaps (all on good/firmer); has form figures of 211 at Sandown; respected back in this scenario.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(4)

21st Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

14:10 Ffos Las

Safari Dream

9st 11lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Rod Millman

Battled well to win from the front over C&D (good) 17 days ago, his second success this season; ought to give another good account but recent 2lb nudge could be enough to leave him vulnerable.

6/1

1st

1

(1)

4th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

14:30 Ffos Las

Safari Dream

10st 0lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Rod Millman

Recorded his seventh win, at Salisbury (6f, good) in May off 3lb lower and has performed with credit on his last two starts; cheekpieces return although he has never won in them; has won off higher marks than this and should run his race.

11/4

3rd

2

(7)

15th Jul 2026

Firm

0m 5f 160y

Class 5

14:31 Bath

Safari Dream

9st 12lb

J: Charlie Tucker

T: Rod Millman

Made all at Salisbury (6f, good) in May; unplaced on next two starts but he was a close fifth of seven at Ffos Las most recently and he ran well over C&D last August on firm ground; might not be far away.

6/1

Form: 11-527

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
The switch to AW handicaps started well, completing a hat-trick (7f/6f); has failed to continue the progress in three runs since, including over 5f; not sure what to expect back on turf; tongue-tie applied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

(5)

23rd Jun 2023

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

18:55 Goodwood

Huberts Dream

9st 3lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Stuart Williams

took keen hold, prominent

12/1

6th

7

(8)

27th May 2023

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:55 Goodwood

Huberts Dream

9st 3lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Stuart Williams

Untroubled to win his first three handicaps and now only 1lb higher than for the last of those; hasn't looked in the same form since being gelded in February, although soft ground was perhaps no help at Chester and the tongue-tie he tried there is swiftly removed.

20/1

9th

7

(10)

10th May 2023

Good To Soft

0m 5f 15y

Class 3

14:05 Chester

Huberts Dream

8st 13lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Stuart Williams

Made short work of his rivals in first three AW handicaps, at 7f and 6f, but handicapper appears to have caught up and he faces very different conditions returned to 5f and back on turf; now tongue tied.

25/1

Abandoned

Form: 10045- D

Last run: 217 days

W: 8st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Gelded since final 2yo run; soft-ground winner last May then ran respectably in the Windsor Castle; ties in closely with Safari Dream on Windsor handicap form in September; interesting contender, especially if the surface stays slow.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(2)

6th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:00 Haydock

Kuwait City

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: John Butler

Won on reappearance at Yarmouth in April and now 4lb lower; however, his subsequent form has been patchy and he needs to raise his game in first-time cheekpieces.

11/1

6th

7

(8)

17th Aug 2024

Good

0m 5f 34y

Class 3

14:25 Newbury

Kuwait City

9st 1lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: John Butler

Below par since his 5f Yarmouth reappearance success in April but has dipped to 2lb below that winning mark; dangerous if staging a revival.

8/1

14th

6

(18)

26th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

19:15 York

Kuwait City

9st 6lb

J: Jack Gilligan

T: John Butler

All wins at 5f, one of them here at last year's Dante meeting, and he's on the same mark as when making a successful return at Yarmouth in April (5f, good to firm); best produced late off a strong pace at 5f though and his 6f form is unconvincing.

16/1

Form: 2116-4 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 8st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Scored three times, including on soft, towards the end of his busy 2yo campaign; beat Looking For Lynda at York on third occasion; may return to that sort of form with Nottingham reappearance under his belt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(3)

31st Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:10 Ripon

Betweenthesticks

9st 5lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Started his campaign with two wins in April, but he's been up and down since and was beaten 9l behind Our Absent Friends at Catterick last time; needs to bounce back again after that and others are more solid.

14/1

6th

5

(7)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Catterick

Betweenthesticks

9st 12lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Started his campaign with two wins in April and there have been plenty of solid runs since; should remain competitive but minor money perhaps his best hope.

8/1

4th

1

(5)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

16:15 Pontefract

Betweenthesticks

9st 12lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Won this last year and kicked off this campaign with two wins in a row, the second of them over C&D; he's run well in defeat over C&D on his last two starts and there's every chance he'll again be bang there.

11/2

Verdict

The shortlist is headed by KUWAIT CITY and Safari Dream, who are closely matched on Windsor running last September. The former is preferred on the forecast very slow ground but the latter is still strongly respected. Third choice is Betweenthesticks who, like the selection, has won on soft going.[Steve Boow]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Kuwait City

POSTDATA:

Betweenthesticks

The Guardian:

Rocking Ends

WEST COUNTRY:

Safari Dream

TOPSPEED:

Looking For Lynda

RP Ratings:

Huberts Dream

NEWMARKET:

Brave Nation

The Times:

Kuwait City

Daily Mirror:

Kuwait City

The Sun:

Kuwait City

The Star:

Kuwait City

Daily Mail:

Betweenthesticks

D Express:

Rocking Ends

Daily Record:

Safari Dream

Telegraph:

Looking For Lynda