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

8th

5

(1)

3rd Jul 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:42 Sandown

Macari

9st 11lb

J: Rose Dawes

T: Sheena West

Creditable second in small field on penultimate start; successful over C&D (off 2lb lower) last July but wasn't in the same form returned to this scenario (behind two of today's rivals) in latest outing.

14/1

8th

4

(8)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:07 Sandown

Macari

9st 5lb

J: Rose Dawes

T: Sheena West

Four Flat wins to his name, including over C&D, and he was second of four at Lingfield 18 days ago (1m6f, good); should run his race but perhaps vulnerable for win purposes.

6/1

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

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

1st

1

(3)

29th Jul 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 110y

20:20 Galway

Cock And Bull

10st 2lb

J: Sam Coen

T: Emmet Mullins

Three flat wins for Michael Bell came at 1m6f on quick ground; ordinary enough hurdles form for current yard but fine run on the flat over this trip at the Curragh on Derby weekend back on decent ground, only losing second late on when 2lb out of handicap; down in grade here and tongue-tie tried; has to be respected.

13/2

3rd

11

(1)

26th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 76y

19:55 Curragh

Cock And Bull

8st 7lb

J: Rory Cleary

T: Emmet Mullins

Dual-purpose; 3-13 on the Flat for Michael Bell, all three wins over 1m6f on fast ground; has placed AW form at around this trip; modest form on easy ground over hurdles so far for this yard but return to quicker conditions on the Flat could revive; 2lb wrong.

14/1

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

2nd

1

15th Aug 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

20:04 Market Rasen

No More Bolero

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: James Owen

Has won his last two (at about 2m), beating a subsequent winner at Worcester and then nicely on top in the finish here four weeks ago; that was in a small field but they went a good clip and this far will suit; up 4lb for last time.

7/2

1st

4

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

15:20 Market Rasen

No More Bolero

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: James Owen

Race-fit off the Flat when a battling winner over a little shorter at Worcester a month ago (visor back on) and looks a good thing to give his running once more off 4lb higher; respected.

5/4

1st

2

17th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:47 Worcester

No More Bolero

11st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: James Owen

Easy winner over hurdles at Ludlow (2m, good) last November and he recorded his fourth Flat win when scoring at Bath (2m1f, good to firm) in April; wasn't beaten far back there 12 days ago and he still has potential for further progress in this sphere; interesting contender back over hurdles.

5/2

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

14th

11

(5)

31st Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

15:35 Epsom

Curran

10st 11lb

J: Mr Patrick Millman

T: Rod Millman

Two wins since joining Rod Millman, the latest a wide-margin success in a small field at Salisbury (1m6f, good to firm) last month; second at Chepstow 25 days ago; handles good to soft but more to prove if it is slower.

16/1

2nd

2

(5)

6th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:20 Chepstow

Curran

10st 1lb

J: Charlie Tucker

T: Rod Millman

Six-time winner, latterly in comfortable fashion at the expense of three rivals at Salisbury (1m6f, good to firm); strongly considered off 4lb higher; Charlie Tucker claims 7lb, replacing Oisin Murphy.

4/1

1st

1

21st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 44y

Class 5

20:51 Salisbury

Curran

10st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Rod Millman

Not particularly consistent this term for new stable but his most recent Class 5 attempt resulted in Bath win (1m6f, good; narrowly off 1lb lower) in June; possibilities returned to this grade.

Evs

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