July 25 / 18.53 Sandown

18.53

Good

Close Brothers Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £6019.1
  • 1m 6f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Close Brothers Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

OUR TIP
1st
3 (7)
Macari

10/1 (Won)

Form: -53150 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Can make the running as was the case at Goodwood last month when a fader, finishing behind Al Khawaneej River and Percy Shelley; running well before then and a soft lead would help matters (seems unlikely).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(2)

26th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:54 Lingfield

Macari

9st 5lb

J: Rose Dawes

T: Sheena West

Four wins last year including one over hurdles and two over this trip on the Flat; just 2lb above his last winning mark, but needs to put a tame effort at Nottingham (1m6f, good) last month behind him.

14/1

6th

3

(1)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Nottingham

Macari

9st 7lb

J: Rose Dawes

T: Sheena West

An excellent Flat campaign last year yielded three turf wins under Rose Dawes from May to October and he's been in AW/hurdles action this winter; absent 11 weeks but has to be considered seriously.

11/2

4th

6

9th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

15:45 Plumpton

Macari

11st 4lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Sheena West

Both hurdle wins have been here, the latest over this trip last April (good; off 3lb lower); three Flat wins since, including on soft ground; should go well.

3/1

Form: -61470 CD

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
1m6f winner at Nottingham in April and similar form next time in defeat; not so good the last twice, including when behind some of these at Goodwood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

1

14th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 216y

18:12 Clonmel

Cock And Bull

12st 0lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Emmet Mullins

Four-time Flat winner for Michael Bell, rated 78 at his peak; best form on good/good to firm and has been soundly beaten in three hurdle starts for this stable; potentially interesting if the ground is not too slow.

5/2

7th

2

2nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 0f 0y

14:55 Leopardstown

Cock And Bull

11st 12lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Emmet Mullins

Four-time Flat winner for Michael bell achieved a rating of 78 in that sphere; best form on good/good to firm and has been soundly beaten in both hurdle starts for new stable; may be of more interest on better ground.

20/1

5th

3

8th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

13:50 Navan

Cock And Bull

11st 12lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Emmet Mullins

Four-time Flat winner for Micheal Bell achieved a rating of 78 in that sphere; best form on good/good to firm and was soundly beaten on hurdles debut at Down Royal last month (2m1f, yld-sft); may need better ground.

10/1

Form: 149372 BF

Last run: 44 days

W: 8st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Most runs and both wins have been on the AW but has comparable turf form, including a second over C&D in 2022; needs respecting after a near miss at Kempton (2m).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(8)

26th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

16:10 Lingfield (AW)

Moel Arthur

11st 2lb

J: Mr Eireann Cagney

T: Brett Johnson

Both wins at this track, the latest a C&D defeat of Sun Dancer Girl in January; solid placed efforts on his last two starts and he has the assistance of a top amateur jockey; big player.

11/4

3rd

8

(6)

25th Jul 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:53 Sandown

Moel Arthur

8st 13lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Brett Johnson

Most runs and both wins have been on the AW but has comparable turf form, including a second over C&D in 2022; needs respecting after a near miss at Kempton (2m).

8/1

4th
5 (8)
Calvert

5/1

Form: 75-022

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Likes to be handy and hung around to finish second in 1m6f handicaps at Newmarket and Ascot (ridden by 7lb claimer last time); mark hasn't really gone anywhere so should be in the thick of it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(3)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:35 Newbury

Calvert

9st 4lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Roger Teal

1-20, but no doubting his consistency and was only just behind Naval Tribute when third of 12 in an apprentice handicap at Ascot (2m, good) last month; has had more chances than his old rival, but should again go well from the same mark.

7/2

3rd

9

(2)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 4

17:10 Ascot

Calvert

9st 7lb

J: Taryn Langley

T: Roger Teal

Sole success came when evens for a Bath novice (1m2f, good to soft) as 2yo; respectable efforts across five starts at 1m6f and 2m in 2025 and he went mighty close at Wolverhampton (1m6f, AW) in March after which he had a run over hurdles; strike-rate isn't a positive but he has the ability to figure.

7/1

4th

4

18th Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:45 Huntingdon

Calvert

11st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Roger Teal

Just 1-18 on Flat, with mostly fair form though and he was pipped over 1m6f just 15 days ago on latest start; just as good on turf as AW; sire Golden Horn has done well with plenty of jumpers; needs a close look on hurdle debut.

14/1

Form: 343-32

Last run: 42 days

W: 8st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Only 1-11 but consistent and was just ahead of Percy Shelley when runner-up at Goodwood last time (1m6f, good); a player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(4)

29th Sep 2025

Good

1m 3f 198y

Class 6

16:30 Brighton

Al Khawaneej River

10st 2lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Marcus Tregoning

Has won only once in 12 starts but is mostly consistent and was second in a Class 4 at Goodwood (1m6f) before a lesser effort at the same level at Sandown; his win was over a similar trip to this and he should be on the scene.

4/1

5th

9

(3)

25th Jul 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:53 Sandown

Al Khawaneej River

8st 9lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Marcus Tregoning

Only 1-11 but consistent and was just ahead of Percy Shelley when runner-up at Goodwood last time (1m6f, good); a player.

7/2

Form: 054/97

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Triple Flat winner in France; contrasting fortunes over jumps for David Bridgwater; beaten a long way in two Flat runs (2m/1m4f) for current yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(5)

17th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:17 Ripon

No More Bolero

10st 0lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: James Owen

Ready winner at Bath (2m1f, good to firm) on reappearance and good second under Mason Paetel over C&D (good) eight days later; another bold bid looks on its way.

3/1

2nd

1

(2)

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Ripon

No More Bolero

10st 3lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: James Owen

Ready winner back from a break at Bath (2m1f, good to firm) eight days ago; his 4lb rise is offset by Mason Paetel's claim; likely to follow up.

6/5

5/1

Form: 911362 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Beat Calvert and Red Flyer at Newmarket in June and nearly went in again last week at Haydock (1m6f, good); solid chance when he'll be 2lb higher in future.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

29th May 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

18:05 Wolverhampton (AW)

Curran

11st 1lb

T: Rod Millman

14th

12

(11)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

18:10 Newbury

Curran

9st 5lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Rod Millman

Won two 1m6f turf handicaps last June but inconsistent afterwards and unraced since a flop in October; left Charlie Johnston for 6,000gns 16 days later and had wind surgery in March; well handicapped (2lb above last winning mark) if he returns revived for new stable.

16/1

8/1

Form: 7-3263

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Has become hard to win with but hasn't been running at all badly and was only 3l away last time at Newmarket (1m6f, good to firm; behind Curran and Calvert); had no excuses that day.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(5)

15th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Red Flyer

9st 2lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Karen Jewell

Dry since a C&D win off 12lb higher early last year and will need to put a couple of below-par efforts behind him; the return to Polytrack will help, though, and he can never be ruled out round here.

5/1

10

(6)

23rd Aug 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Goodwood

Red Flyer

9st 1lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Karen Jewell

Some respectable efforts this year; however, form dipped sharply last time (in race won by Macari) and his losing run is mounting up.

20/1

Non-runners

Percy Shelley

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £45.14
Tricast £572.44

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Percy Shelley

SPOTLIGHT:

Al Khawaneej River

Daily Mail:

Curran

POSTDATA:

Cock And Bull

LAMBOURN:

Calvert

The Star:

Curran

Daily Record:

Curran

The Times:

Al Khawaneej River

Telegraph:

Al Khawaneej River

TOPSPEED:

Percy Shelley

NEWMARKET:

Percy Shelley

The Guardian:

Percy Shelley

D Express:

Percy Shelley

Daily Mirror:

Percy Shelley