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

10th

7

(11)

30th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 197y

Class 4

16:55 Goodwood

Alcaraz

9st 11lb

J: David Egan

T: George Baker

Holds weak claims on his two efforts this season for new stable and is best watched unless the betting suggests a resurgence is likely.

25/1

14th

17

(17)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 11y

Class 3

17:20 Goodwood

Alcaraz

9st 3lb

J: C Y Ho

T: George Baker

Seven-time winner in France; this front-runner was runner-up in twice in a row for Tom Dascombe last July/September but things didn't go to plan on his final two runs for that yard (Flat/hurdles) and he was well beaten on his stable and seasonal debut at Chepstow in May.

50/1

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

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

12th

17

(14)

12th Jun 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 3

15:23 Sandown

Baltic Voyage

8st 10lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Marcus Tregoning

6yo who is 0-5 over hurdles and 1-13 on the Flat; tailed off in this year's two runs, at 1m2f and 1m.

66/1

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

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

7th

9

(8)

30th Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 23y

Class 5

15:25 Yarmouth

Man Of Desert

9st 0lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Chris Dwyer

Seemingly aided by first-time tongue-tie when keeping-on second of five here (1m good to firm) last month but his subsequent AW run was underwhelming and he's now 0-13; yet to convince stamina-wise over 1m2f; not the percentage call.

12/1

7th

9

(8)

12th Aug 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Man Of Desert

9st 3lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Chris Dwyer

12-race maiden but he ran well with a tongue-tie added when runner-up at Yarmouth (1m, good to firm) three weeks ago; this is a deeper race but he could go well again off the same mark.

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

3rd

2

(3)

17th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:00 Lingfield (AW)

Forca Timao

9st 12lb

J: Alfie Redman

T: Mark Pattinson

His last win was in April 2025 but that was off 8lb higher at Southwell (1m3f, AW); hit the frame in two starts over C&D this spring and he ran another solid race when fifth of 14 at Kempton (1m) in May; seems tactically versatile and he should be in the mix again after a short break.

11/2

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

1st

3

(2)

28th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 11y

Class 5

19:28 Goodwood

Beach Point

11st 2lb

J: Mr Henry Callan

T: William Knight

On a handy mark again now and his first three runs of this campaign confirmed he retained plenty of enthusiasm; off the boil more recently but he drops in class with Henry Callan booked; one to be interested in.

9/2

4th

5

(7)

6th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 209y

Class 4

17:00 Sandown

Beach Point

10st 8lb

J: Mr James Hills

T: William Knight

Won twice over C&D (good/soft) last summer; has reached the frame on four of his five 2026 starts but beaten 6l when fourth at York latest and the return to Sandown needs to help him recapture his peak form.

9/1

4th

6

(5)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 56y

Class 4

16:30 York

Beach Point

9st 4lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: William Knight

Has done well with cheekpieces, winning twice at 1m2f at Sandown (good/soft) last summer; started 2026 with three creditable in-frame efforts (including good to firm) but needs to shrug off a lesser effort over C&D four weeks ago.

14/1

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