July 24 / 17.15 Sandown

17.15

Good To Firm

Close Brothers Asset Finance Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £4448.9
  • 1m 1f 209y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
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Close Brothers Asset Finance Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.38
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 33-114 D BF

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Hit the ground running for George Baker with 1m4f/1m3f wins on the AW and was close up at Epsom despite stumbling at the start; that was no backward step and he should be thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(2)

30th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 6y

Class 5

18:40 Epsom

Imperial Cult

9st 2lb

J: Neil Callan

T: George Baker

Battled well to win apprentice jockeys' race from the front at Sandown (1m2f, good to firm) on Friday and is now 3-4 for George Baker; escapes a penalty here and will be fine over the longer trip; makes obvious appeal.

8/13

1st

3

(6)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 209y

Class 5

17:15 Sandown

Imperial Cult

9st 9lb

J: Jack Callan

T: George Baker

Hit the ground running for George Baker with 1m4f/1m3f wins on the AW and was close up at Epsom despite stumbling at the start; that was no backward step and he should be thereabouts.

5/2

4th

2

(2)

1st Jul 2026

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 5

17:20 Epsom

Imperial Cult

9st 9lb

J: Jack Callan

T: George Baker

Strong in the market when he made a winning stable debut at Lingfield (1m4f) and he followed up off 3lb higher at Kempton (1m3f, also AW) three weeks ago; handicapper reacted by dishing out a career-high mark but this locally trained gelding is a C&D winner who needs considering in current mood.

9/4

100/30

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 335-24 CD BF

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Eight wins divided between hurdling and the Flat; off the same mark as when narrowly beating Mrembo in this 12 months ago and returns off the same mark; penultimate run was on a par with that performance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(1)

28th Aug 2026

Good

1m 3f 209y

Class 5

16:55 Ffos Las

Kings Castle

9st 6lb

J: Taryn Langley

T: David Simcock

Thoroughly exposed eight-time winner and a 9yo now; however, positives to take from three of his last four runs and no reason why he won't be involved.

7/1

3rd

2

(5)

6th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:08 Newmarket (July)

Kings Castle

9st 8lb

J: Taryn Langley

T: David Simcock

Retains plenty of ability aged nine, having finished a close second in two of his three outings this term, latest at Sandown; was still capable of winning races last summer and can't be ruled out.

7/2

2nd

4

(1)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 209y

Class 5

17:15 Sandown

Kings Castle

9st 8lb

J: Taryn Langley

T: David Simcock

Eight wins divided between hurdling and the Flat; off the same mark as when narrowly beating Mrembo in this 12 months ago and returns off the same mark; penultimate run was on a par with that performance.

100/30

Form: 4-645

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced filly who kept on for fifth on handicap debut at Wolverhampton (8.6f; 50-1) and there could be more to come now she's sent further.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(2)

27th Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:07 Ffos Las

Symphonys Song

9st 11lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Ian Williams

Six-race maiden but she's finished third in both starts since stepping up to 1m2f, including when ridden by Ryan Kavanagh at Chepstow (1m2f, good to firm) 18 days ago; has solid claims.

7/1

3rd

3

(1)

9th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:01 Chepstow

Symphonys Song

9st 0lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Ian Williams

Five-race maiden who has shown positive signs in her two handicap attempts, keeping-on third upped to 1m2f at Sandown (good to firm) latest; progress still looks possible; enters calculations.

11/2

3rd

6

(7)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 209y

Class 5

17:15 Sandown

Symphonys Song

9st 3lb

J: Toby Moore

T: Ian Williams

Lightly raced filly who kept on for fifth on handicap debut at Wolverhampton (8.6f; 50-1) and there could be more to come now she's sent further.

6/1

6/1

Form: 534145 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 1lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Reliable mare who wasn't beaten far last time at Epsom when just behind Imperical Cult; has run well in the last three renewals of this race, beaten 2l or less; considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(4)

14th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 17y

Class 6

16:38 Epsom

Mrembo

9st 12lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Jonathan Portman

Reliable mare who gained this season's win in three-runner contest at Windsor (11.4f, good to firm) in May; suited by this C&D and will appreciate today's ease in grade; each-way claims at least.

11/2

4th

7

(2)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 209y

Class 5

17:15 Sandown

Mrembo

9st 1lb

J: Olivia Tubb

T: Jonathan Portman

Reliable mare who wasn't beaten far last time at Epsom when just behind Imperical Cult; has run well in the last three renewals of this race, beaten 2l or less; considered.

6/1

5th

6

(3)

1st Jul 2026

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 5

17:20 Epsom

Mrembo

9st 1lb

J: Olivia Tubb

T: Jonathan Portman

Six visits to Epsom have seen her placed four times, including when second in this race in 2024; narrowly got the better of one of just two rivals when winning at Windsor (11.5f, good to firm) in May and it was a solid fourth in similar event back there a fortnight ago; will probably give her running but more of an each-way prospect.

13/2

Form: 111338 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Has won on turf but boasts a far superior strike-rate on the AW and hasn't been that threatening on good to firm in his last two races.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(3)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 209y

Class 5

17:15 Sandown

Harlington

9st 12lb

J: Liam Wright

T: Charlie Clover

Has won on turf but boasts a far superior strike-rate on the AW and hasn't been that threatening on good to firm in his last two races.

9/1

8th

3

(11)

2nd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

18:15 Newbury

Harlington

9st 13lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Charlie Clover

A winner on turf but has a superior strike-rate on the AW including a hat-trick earlier this year; only four ran when third at Yarmouth last time and that was under a 5lb claimer; could be vulnerable.

10/1

15/2

Form: 23130- D

Last run: 232 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Off since a quiet run on the AW in December and that was after 147 days away so current wellbeing is an issue; however, only 3lb higher than when making all at Salisbury last summer (1m2f, good to firm) so not handicapped out of it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

(8)

28th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 209y

Class 4

17:20 Sandown

Golden Phase

9st 0lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Denis Coakley

Won off 1lb lower at Salisbury (1m2f, good to firm) last June, but she's had only three runs since and has struggled in last two; has something to prove after another break and she needs a major revival.

14/1

6th

5

(4)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 209y

Class 5

17:15 Sandown

Golden Phase

9st 8lb

J: Rose Dawes

T: Denis Coakley

Off since a quiet run on the AW in December and that was after 147 days away so current wellbeing is an issue; however, only 3lb higher than when making all at Salisbury last summer (1m2f, good to firm) so not handicapped out of it.

15/2

7

(4)

10th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

20:20 Newbury

Golden Phase

9st 8lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Denis Coakley

Made all at Salisbury (1m2f) last time, recording her first win away from Bath; ran well at Newbury last summer but has to overcome a career-high mark.

11/2

Non-runners

Pride Of Nepal

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.60
Straight Forecast £8.12
Trifecta £34.40

Selections

RP RATINGS:

King's Castle

SPOTLIGHT:

Imperial Cult

LAMBOURN:

Mrembo

POSTDATA:

Harlington

The Times:

Imperial Cult

Daily Mail:

Imperial Cult

Daily Mirror:

Imperial Cult

The Sun:

Imperial Cult

The Guardian:

Mrembo

NEWMARKET:

King's Castle

Telegraph:

King's Castle

D Express:

King's Castle

The Star:

King's Castle

Daily Record:

King's Castle