April 28 / 13.15 Sandown

13.15

Soft

bet365 Handicap

  • Prize money: £12885
  • 0m 5f 10y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
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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

4th

3

(3)

11th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 42y

Class 4

17:40 Yarmouth

Brave Nation

9st 7lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Michael Bell

Drew a blank in 2025 but there were some good runs in defeat and he starts this season off an 8lb lower mark than for last year's reappearance; solid third in one run at Yarmouth; best on good ground or faster; makes his seasonal return with a hood back on and with his stable in good form.

4/1

4

(3)

8th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:40 Kempton (AW)

Brave Nation

9st 8lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Michael Bell

All his wins have come at Doncaster but he's fully effective elsewhere and is still unexposed on AW; plenty of solid efforts over 5f this season but losing run is mounting up and he's struggled in four previous runs at this trip; down the list.

10/1

13

(8)

28th Aug 2025

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 2

20:45 Southwell (AW)

Brave Nation

8st 2lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Michael Bell

All his wins have come at Doncaster but he is fully effective elsewhere, including on AW as evidenced by his close third in this race last year when rated 3lb higher; retains plenty of ability and more minor money not out of the question.

10/1

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

4th

1

(1)

13th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 42y

Class 3

14:40 Yarmouth

Rocking Ends

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Tom Clover

Three-time winner on good to firm last year, including over C&D in August off a mark 1lb higher than today's; 0-4 in Bahrain this winter but now returns to Britain on a handy mark having been off for 83 days; could have this run to suit and holds claims.

11/1

7

(14)

21st Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 4f 214y

Class 2

16:07 Southwell (AW)

Rocking Ends

9st 2lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Tom Clover

Has gone 3-4 in cheekpieces and was drawn out of contention in the defeat at Goodwood; however, the handicapper is creeping closer and this race demands his best form yet.

12/1

1

(1)

24th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 42y

Class 3

15:20 Yarmouth

Rocking Ends

10st 0lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Tom Clover

Has won two of his last three and was drawn out of contention when beaten at Goodwood; always in a good place before doing it comfortably at Windsor (5f, good to firm); 7lb rise asks a question but he's on top of his game.

6/4

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

7th

6

(7)

21st May 2026

Good

0m 5f 212y

Class 5

15:10 Catterick

Safari Dream

9st 6lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Rod Millman

7-43; took full advantage of an easing mark to gain his third Salisbury win when making all (6f apprentices', good) last week; escapes a penalty, and Jake Dickson is able to claim his 7lb allowance, so his chance is an obvious one; clearly the one to beat if in the same kind of form.

2/1

1st

8

(1)

14th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

14:08 Salisbury

Safari Dream

9st 6lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Rod Millman

Dual C&D winner last year (including this race), the most recent coming off a 2lb higher mark than today's; fair third at Kempton (7f) on his return and ran a solid race when fourth at Bath 27 days ago; claims back at this track (form figures here read 3114).

3/1

4th

10

(1)

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 160y

Class 4

17:20 Bath

Safari Dream

8st 13lb

J: George Wood

T: Rod Millman

Five of his six wins (5f/6f) have been on turf but he returned after five months off with a fair third at Kempton (7f) three weeks ago; should benefit from that run and he has possibilities on this drop back in trip.

10/1

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

2

(6)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:12 Ripon

Betweenthesticks

9st 9lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Kicked off the season with back-to-back 5f wins at Wolverhampton and Pontefract before being run down by Vince L'Amour over C&D (Hurt You Never third) next time; nowhere near those same levels at Pontefract (ninth of ten) latest, so needs to bounce back.

9/1

9th

4

(9)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

19:22 Pontefract

Betweenthesticks

9st 5lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

He has returned from a six-month break in rude health, winning at Wolverhampton and over C&D (second C&D success) last month and running well in his hat-trick bid at Ripon a fortnight ago; wide draw not ideal for a front-runner but he isn't handicapped out of things; trainer also runs Jojo Rabbit.

4/1

2nd

5

(4)

8th May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

18:45 Ripon

Betweenthesticks

9st 6lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Returned from six months off with a win at Wolverhampton and he followed up with another narrow success at Pontefract (5f, good) 17 days ago; 3lb higher than for his front-running win last time but remains feasibly treated and is tactically versatile; key player for yard that won this in 2023 and 2025.

5/2

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