August 29 / 16.05 Sandown

16.05

Good

Download The BetMGM App Handicap

  • Prize money: £7731
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Download The BetMGM App Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £13.00
  • Place: £2.60

Form: 1-6061 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
7f specialist; contested strong handicaps on first three starts this year; justified favouritism in less competitive event at Southwell five weeks ago; nudged back up 3lb but should be in the mix again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(10)

25th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 212y

Class 3

16:18 Haydock

Storm Free

9st 13lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: James Tate

7f specialist who has has resumed his progress with wins at Southwell (AW) and Sandown (good to soft) in his last two starts; up another 4lb but he did well to overcome trouble last time when beating a Godolphin rival who was chasing a hat-trick; big player.

9/2

1st

6

(3)

29th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Sandown

Storm Free

9st 8lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: James Tate

7f specialist; contested strong handicaps on first three starts this year; justified favouritism in less competitive event at Southwell five weeks ago; nudged back up 3lb but should be in the mix again.

7/1

1st

1

(3)

27th Jul 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

17:00 Southwell (AW)

Storm Free

10st 3lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: James Tate

Again below market expectations last time in first-time cheekpieces (headgear off today); been running in better company, ran well in a Tapeta handicap last summer and it's too soon to write him off down another 2lb.

10/1

15/8

  • Place: £1.30

Form: -05211 CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 13lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Mostly campaigned over middle distances but the recent drop to 7f has been the making of him; surged clear under Oisin Murphy to win over C&D (good to firm; unraced on softer than good) three weeks ago and a 9lb rise looks fully justified; thriving and needs taking seriously once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

11

(6)

3rd Oct 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Ascot

Desert Shadow

9st 3lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Saeed bin Suroor

Record of 2112 since wearing a visor and dropped back from middle distances (maiden previously); ran creditably at Sandown (7f) most recently, despite pulling hard; may still have further progress in him, especially if settling better; one to consider.

12/1

2nd

2

(10)

29th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Sandown

Desert Shadow

9st 13lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Saeed bin Suroor

Mostly campaigned over middle distances but the recent drop to 7f has been the making of him; surged clear under Oisin Murphy to win over C&D (good to firm; unraced on softer than good) three weeks ago and a 9lb rise looks fully justified; thriving and needs taking seriously once more.

15/8

1st

1

(4)

6th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:23 Sandown

Desert Shadow

10st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Saeed bin Suroor

Made it 11th time lucky when seeing off three rivals at Lingfield (7.5f, good to firm) three weeks ago but the majority of those starts have been over 1m2f+ so he is unexposed over this sort of trip; Oisin Murphy also has a very good record for the stable.

11/4

OUR TIP

10/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 9-1007 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Best efforts at 7f, including on this course; signs of return to form when close seventh of 20 at Glorious Goodwood, having to wait for room; handles good to soft ground; should be thereabouts off the same mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(4)

29th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Sandown

Defence Minister

10st 0lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Best efforts at 7f, including on this course; signs of return to form when close seventh of 20 at Glorious Goodwood, having to wait for room; handles good to soft ground; should be thereabouts off the same mark.

10/1

7th

2

(13)

29th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:40 Goodwood

Defence Minister

9st 10lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Finished a fairly close fourth in this last year (good) when the pick of James Doyle from three Wathnan runners; had been gelded before taking a 7f handicap at Kempton (AW) on his reappearance in the spring but it's been downhill in two subsequent starts; hopes pinned on his second visit to Goodwood sparking a revival.

25/1

20th

16

(8)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Defence Minister

9st 3lb

J: James McDonald

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Record is 3-10; gelded prior to reappearance success at Kempton (7f, AW; looked better than ever) and had an excuse (raced in unfavoured group) when never landing a blow in the Victoria Cup over C&D since; could go well, provided this race pans out better.

25/1

5/1

Form: -44057 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Won this race last year on soft ground and he's now 4lb lower; shaped well from unfavourable draw when seventh at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) two weeks ago; returning to 7f should suit, and rain would not inconvenience him in the slightest; wears headgear for the first time; big player despite unflattering form-figures.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

(8)

17th Sep 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 3y

Class 3

15:45 Yarmouth

God Of War

9st 7lb

J: David Egan

T: Tom Clover

Gained both wins over 7f; raced too freely when fourth in first-time cheekpieces (retained) at Sandown (7f, good to soft) last month but is worth a crack at sprinting in the new headgear and has become well handicapped.

10/1

4th

5

(6)

29th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Sandown

God Of War

9st 8lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Tom Clover

Won this race last year on soft ground and he's now 4lb lower; shaped well from unfavourable draw when seventh at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) two weeks ago; returning to 7f should suit, and rain would not inconvenience him in the slightest; wears headgear for the first time; big player despite unflattering form-figures.

5/1

Form: 37-708 D

Last run: 77 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
3yo; third in a Group 3 at Newmarket last autumn but mostly disappointing since, including in cheekpieces and blinkers; had a possible excuse (hampered start, stumbled) on latest, and he's falling in the weights, but he needs to get back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

(5)

29th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Sandown

Archer Royal

9st 4lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

3yo; third in a Group 3 at Newmarket last autumn but mostly disappointing since, including in cheekpieces and blinkers; had a possible excuse (hampered start, stumbled) on latest, and he's falling in the weights, but he needs to get back on track.

10/1

8th

1

(7)

13th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

15:55 Sandown

Archer Royal

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Owes this high a mark to his third in a Group 3 at Newmarket last September and he's threatening to go the wrong way, with his struggles continuing when trailing home last in the rescheduled Silver Bowl at Carlisle; the cheekpieces tried there are swiftly replaced by blinkers.

25/1

14th

3

(1)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 173y

Class 2

15:45 Carlisle

Archer Royal

9st 7lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won debut (7f, AW) and came third in Group 3 at Newmarket (7f, good) last September; however, he was last of seven in another Group 3 there (1m, good to firm) on final 2yo outing and beaten 10l in a conditions stakes at Kempton (1m, AW) on March reappearance; the latter was a hot race but today's first-time headgear for handicap debut needs to prompt a vastly better show.

11/1

Form: 202935

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Two 6f wins as a 2yo; several creditable efforts this season but has looked held by the handicapper, fifth over this trip at Chester four weeks ago; needs something extra.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

(4)

2nd Oct 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:00 Ascot

Monarchs Gold

9st 6lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Two 6f wins as a 2yo; some creditable efforts in defeat at up to an extended 1m this season but not at best the last twice; this is a slight drop in grade but the other 3yos make greater appeal.

14/1

6th

7

(1)

29th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Sandown

Monarchs Gold

9st 5lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Two 6f wins as a 2yo; several creditable efforts this season but has looked held by the handicapper, fifth over this trip at Chester four weeks ago; needs something extra.

12/1

5th

9

(7)

2nd Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 2

15:52 Chester

Monarchs Gold

9st 2lb

J: Toby Moore

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Won twice on AW (6f) as a 2yo; his best run this season came at Chester when a close second over 7.6f at the May meeting; good third at Hamilton last month (first run after a gelding operation); each-way shout.

11/2

Form: 8-0220 D

Last run: 85 days

W: 9st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Best with positive tactics, as when leading until well inside final 1f at Goodwood in May; only tenth at Epsom on Oaks day but that was a warm race and he's had a break since; goes well on soft ground; possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

1

(10)

23rd Sep 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Goodwood

Mister Bluebird

10st 2lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Heather Main

8yo who hasn't been at his best on his last three starts, most recently 8l third of seven over C&D (soft; has won on such ground over C&D); however, he has a solid record at Goodwood and is 3lb lower than when runner-up here (7f, good) in May; not ruled out.

16/1

3rd

1

(4)

8th Sep 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Goodwood

Mister Bluebird

9st 13lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Heather Main

Two-time course winner, including this trip on soft, and he is on a manageable mark; his form has dipped on his last two starts and he may need slower ground at this trip.

12/1

7th

9

(7)

29th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Sandown

Mister Bluebird

9st 4lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Heather Main

Best with positive tactics, as when leading until well inside final 1f at Goodwood in May; only tenth at Epsom on Oaks day but that was a warm race and he's had a break since; goes well on soft ground; possibilities.

14/1

8th
4 (8)
Shameful

9/1

Form: 1/229-

Last run: 436 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 4yo, last seen running well in the Britannia at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm; unraced on softer than good) when second of ten in his group; previously went down narrowly over 7f at the Curragh; returns from a long break with untapped potential and his stable in good form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(11)

16th Sep 2026

Soft

1m 1f 21y

Class 3

16:12 Yarmouth

Shameful

9st 9lb

J: David Probert

T: Clive Cox

Lightly raced 4yo; 436 days off before his last of eight at Sandown (7f, good to soft; 10-1) 18 days ago; could have needed the run and although his dam was a 2yo 5f winner, the sire won at up to 1m2f.

14/1

8th

4

(8)

29th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Sandown

Shameful

9st 9lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Clive Cox

Lightly raced 4yo, last seen running well in the Britannia at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm; unraced on softer than good) when second of ten in his group; previously went down narrowly over 7f at the Curragh; returns from a long break with untapped potential and his stable in good form.

9/1

9th

20

(8)

19th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Shameful

9st 2lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Clive Cox

One of two runners for Clive Cox who won this in 2003; has advanced his RPR with each start and it's interesting that he was so strong in the market for handicap debut at the Curragh (7f, good; 15-8) where he was given every chance but ultimately repelled by Iceford; won his maiden over 6f but 1m shouldn't be a problem; every chance of serving up another personal best.

25/1

Non-runners

Silver Ghost, Huscal

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £47.00
Straight Forecast £37.53
Tricast £77.54
Trifecta £194.70

Selections

NEWMARKET:

Desert Shadow

SPOTLIGHT:

God Of War

POSTDATA:

Monarch's Gold

D Express:

Defence Minister

LAMBOURN:

Huscal

The Sun:

Silver Ghost

Telegraph:

Desert Shadow

The Guardian:

Desert Shadow

Daily Mirror:

Desert Shadow

The Star:

Desert Shadow

Daily Record:

Desert Shadow

RP RATINGS:

God Of War

TOPSPEED:

God Of War

The Times:

God Of War

Daily Mail:

God Of War