August 20 / 18.45 Sandown

18.45

Good

Sky Bet Sunday Series Stayers’ Handicap

  • Prize money: £20616
  • 1m 6f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 10 runners
ITV4
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Sky Bet Sunday Series Stayers’ Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £10.80
  • Place: £3.00

Form: 4-6972

Last run: 57 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Just ten races but a mixed record; neck second at Newmarket (1m6f, good; not proven on softer) in June on latest start was his best show since last September and he rallied in good style; needs to be in 2022 peak form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

10/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 05-532

Last run: 49 days

W: 8st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Unraced on softer than good; won at Kempton (1m3f, AW) last September in his second handicap; surged back to form when narrowly beaten third at Newbury (1m2f; amateurs) in June and made most when very good second of seven at Windsor (11.4f) seven weeks ago; into new territory over this trip but has stamina on the dam's side.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(5)

29th Sep 2023

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 5

16:55 Newcastle (AW)

Dark Island

10st 2lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Heather Main

Front-runner; pipped on the post - his third solid run in a row - at Sandown (1m6f Class 3, good) on penultimate start; did too much to soon back on the AW at Wolverhampton next time and, even over this shorter trip, those forcing tactics are tough to deploy at Newcastle; near career-best required.

5/1

9th

8

(2)

7th Sep 2023

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 3

20:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

Dark Island

8st 12lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Heather Main

Front-runner; just one win to his name but he's been banging at the door of late, missing out by a nose at Sandown (1m6f, good) 18 days ago; this doesn't look overloaded with pace and his rivals would be wise not to give him too much rope.

8/1

8/1

  • Place: £3.00

Form: -64643

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
No ground worries; no win since 2021 but on his lowest mark for over three years and two of this season's minor honours, including third of 11 over 1m6f at Yarmouth last time, give him a good each-way chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(8)

5th Jun 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:57 Nottingham

Rhythmic Intent

9st 9lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Stuart Williams

The lack of any win since 2021 sees him down to his lowest mark since handicap debut in 2019; stacks of form from 2023 gives him a big chance in theory and he wasn't far away in February three starts ago; while hard to dismiss, it's also hard to make him the percentage call.

7/1

5th

11

(1)

11th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

13:30 Ascot

Rhythmic Intent

9st 0lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Stuart Williams

Now a stone below last winning mark; however, he's far from solid on 2024 AW form and losing spell goes back to 2021; by no means certain to take advantage of the drop in weights.

25/1

12/1

Form: 437315 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Rarely seen on softer than good but ran creditably in a soft-ground race in May 2022; very reliable over 1m6f-2m and won off 2lb lower at York on penultimate outing; each-way chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(4)

18th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 68y

Class 5

19:10 Lingfield

Diamond Bay

9st 5lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Tom Ward

On a losing run and the switch to blinkers (retained) on his last two starts has not seen any upturn; others appeal more.

12/1

5th

1

(1)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:25 Nottingham

Diamond Bay

9st 9lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Tom Ward

On a losing run and he was tried in blinkers when a below-par seventh of ten in 1m6f handicap at Goodwood 30 days ago; others appeal more.

8/1

7th

5

(8)

1st May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:35 Goodwood

Diamond Bay

9st 2lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Tom Ward

Multiple winner who stays well but has failed to beat a rival in his last two races, with and without a visor; now tries blinkers.

8/1

Form: 352214 BF

Last run: 11 days

W: 8st 13lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Can make the running; very reliable on AW and a wide range of turf, winning at Goodwood (2m) on penultimate outing; probably not far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

5

(13)

29th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

19:25 Down Royal

Pons Aelius

9st 9lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: H D McGuigan

Six-time winner at up to 2m in Britain but yet to hit any sort of form for current yard; career-low mark and tongue-tie tried so don't rule out.

12/1

11th

7

(16)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 190y

15:22 Sligo

Pons Aelius

9st 11lb

J: Gabriella Hill

T: H D McGuigan

Donegal yard likes to pick up horses with back-form, often from Britain, and try to rejuvenate them; six-time winner at up to 2m but hasn't been finishing out his races in Ireland and been off a while.

18/1

8th

9

(9)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

2m 0f 0y

17:15 Dundalk (AW)

Pons Aelius

9st 0lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: H D McGuigan

Six-time winner for Charlie Johnston and best form over this trip; poor on first two runs for this yard at big prices; better than bare result when beaten over 5l at Gowran last May; yard's first runner of the year won on Tuesday; no surprise were he to go well after a break with leading claimer aboard.

20/1

Form: 441118 D BF

Last run: 50 days

W: 8st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Completed a hat-trick (1m6f, 2m and 2m2f) in June on good and good to firm, before disappointing favourite in the Northumberland Vase on AW; revised mark is far less concerning than how little he showed in two runs on good to soft much earlier in career, never having raced on soft or heavy; considered if the rain has largely stayed away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

25th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

17:45 Worcester

Blow Your Horn

11st 11lb

J: Mr Alex Chadwick

T: Ian Williams

Flat winner who is 0-6 over hurdles but has responded positively to this headgear combination the last twice in handicaps over 2m5f and 2m3f (both on good); strong stayer on the Flat so this longer trip is worth a go.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: 181-78

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Generally progressive in 2022, with a dominant show when upped to 1m4f on AW final start; ran creditably in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle (2m, AW) on reappearance but led over 2f out to over 1f out, so perhaps needed the race or did not stay; remote finish on heavy at Goodwood (1m6f) 15 days ago was his first run on softer than good; considered if it's not soft today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

27th Oct 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 110y

14:17 Wexford

Omniscient

11st 12lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Two wins on the Flat, rated as high as 95 when with Sir Mark Prescott; a long way below that in a Flat event at Listowel a month ago; took well enough to hurdling in four outings between March and June, best effort when second at Punchestown in May; let down by his jumping at Downpatrick in September; good chance if producing his best on first-time cheekpieces.

3/1

10th

10

27th Sep 2024

Soft

1m 6f 0y

17:00 Listowel

Omniscient

11st 0lb

J: Mr J M Halford

T: Gordon Elliott

prominent

4/1

10/1

Form: 398224 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 8st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Both wins were at Nottingham last summer; runner-up twice on good to firm in June, latterly over C&D; acts on good to soft but perhaps soft ground was not ideal on latest outing; has competitive mark and a good claimer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(3)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 6

16:22 Nottingham

Alpine Stroll

11st 13lb

J: Mr Henry Callan

T: Lemos De Souza

Dual Nottingham winner; acts on soft, unraced on heavy; shot back to some form when storming home in an amateur riders' race at Bath (11.5f, good to soft) last month; well below form next time (1m6f, which he stays) but Henry Callan galvanised him to a 1m4f win at Newbury (soft) on Saturday; sole attempt at 1m2f was in 2021 but he had to hold on at Newbury after going clear and his appearance over this trip with 4lb penalty no longer looks ridiculous.

2/1

1st

1

(3)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 6

16:22 Nottingham

Alpine Stroll

11st 13lb

J: Mr Henry Callan

T: Lemos De Souza

Dual Nottingham winner; acts on soft, unraced on heavy; shot back to some form when storming home in an amateur riders' race at Bath (11.5f, good to soft) last month; well below form next time (1m6f, which he stays) but Henry Callan galvanised him to a 1m4f win at Newbury (soft) on Saturday; sole attempt at 1m2f was in 2021 but he had to hold on at Newbury after going clear and his appearance over this trip with 4lb penalty no longer looks ridiculous.

2/1

12

(7)

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

12:50 Newbury

Alpine Stroll

10st 11lb

J: Mr Henry Callan

T: Lemos De Souza

Acts on soft, unraced on heavy; shot back to some form when storming home in an amateur riders' race at Bath (11.5f, good to soft) last month; well below form off this 7lb higher mark at Haydock (1m6f, which he stays) 13 days later, however.

12/1

12/1

Form: 4-3U16 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
A revelation in blinkers, including when winning three in a row last August-September (1m4f, good/good to firm) and storming 7l clear at Kempton (1m4f, AW) last month; came up well short off revised mark back on turf latest; seen less often at 1m6f but won over it at Goodwood in April 2022; could have a problem if the ground is soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(1)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

19:30 Nottingham

Saratoga Gold

9st 8lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Winless in three years and has regressed for this yard; consisent run came to an end when below-par at Kempton a few weeks ago but he won't mind the return to turf off a career-low mark.

6/1

6th

4

(6)

10th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

17:08 Kempton (AW)

Saratoga Gold

9st 8lb

J: Matthew Lloyd Slater

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Multiple winner at up to 1m6f, including here but hasn't won for almost three years; even so, has been placed on five successive occasions and is capable of going close from this mark now back on this surface.

3/1

2nd

5

(5)

20th May 2026

Good To Soft

1m 6f 17y

Class 5

19:10 Yarmouth

Saratoga Gold

9st 5lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Kevin Frost

Losing run stretches back to July 2023 but he ended 2025 in good form and his reappearance at Doncaster (1m4f, good to firm) 18 days ago was a positive one; stepping back up in distance is a positive but he could do with the ground drying out.

5/1

7/1

Form: 141412 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Not proven on soft; scored over 1m6f at Chelmsford in April and at Goodwood in May (good to soft) and June (good to firm); second of six at Ascot on latest start confirmed he has never been better, so he has to be in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(9)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Goodwood

Crescent Lake

9st 7lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Acts on good to firm and good to soft; respectable third off this mark at Sandown (1m6f) most recently; has form figures of 113 over this C&D and holds a solid chance back here.

13/2

3rd

4

(3)

26th Jul 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

19:05 Sandown

Crescent Lake

9st 7lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

led, raced in second after 4f

6/1

4th

2

(6)

3rd Jul 2024

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

20:00 Epsom

Crescent Lake

10st 2lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Creditable third twice in May; form dipped when he tried front-running on latest start (had a good record at Goodwood before that) and it had looked as if 1m6f-2m was more his thing these days.

10/1

Non-runners

Apparate, On To Victory, Secret Shadow

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £69.90
Straight Forecast £58.51
Tricast £419.29
Trifecta £634.30

Selections

The Times:

Crescent Lake

SPOTLIGHT:

Omniscient

POSTDATA:

Rhythmic Intent

D Express:

Secret Shadow

TOPSPEED:

Alpine Stroll

Telegraph:

Diamond Bay

The Star:

Blow Your Horn

RP RATINGS:

Apparate

NEWMARKET:

Omniscient

The Sun:

Crescent Lake

Daily Record:

Crescent Lake

Daily Mirror:

Rhythmic Intent