7.35pm Sandown Tips & Betting Preview 20/07/2016

Our experts have identified a value selection for the 7f handicap on Wednesday’s Sandown card. Read our horse-by-horse race preview for the lowdown and our betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: Realize is a danger to all if able to transfer his smart AW form from the winter back to turf after his 117-day break, but the suggestion is RED ARTIST. Simon Crisford’s 3yo is yet to make any further progress since his winning reappearance on Tapeta in April but was very much in the thick of things before his stamina ebbed away over 1m on good to soft  at Doncaster last time. Today’s drop back in trip looks the right move and he still has untapped potential if a first-time visor has the desired effect. Fast Dancer comes here after two good runs at Epsom and has a part to play here too.

1 Firmdecisions – Struck form and won consecutive starts over 7f at Newmarket (both on fast ground) in May 2015 but soon lost his way afterwards and has finished down the field on both outings this season; back on a workable mark now but has a lot to prove.

2 Realize – Enjoyed very productive winter on the AW, winning three valuable 7f handicaps, and was a very respectable fifth over 6f on AW Championship Day when last seen in March; back from break on much lower turf mark here, but it remains to be seen how much improvement can be transferred back to this surface.

3 Outer Space – Not beaten far when seventh in valuable contest at Newmarket (7f, good to firm) recently and is 2lb lower in an easier race here, but has a very modest strike-rate for a horse of his ability (3-34 overall, 1-20 on turf) and can be rather frustrating.

4 Fast Dancer – Comes here after running well to be placed off today’s mark on consecutive starts over 7f at Epsom; seems versatile ground-wise and has shaped as though he might be better suited by this stiffer track; can make his presence felt.

5 Haley Bop – Back on song when pushed out to score at Musselburgh (1m, good) last month, her third start of the year; today’s drop back in trip probably won’t be a problem and her last couple of runs have been respectable, but she needs to find something extra to overcome her current mark.

6 Koptoon – Produced a good performance to win readily on last month’s stable debut at Bath (5.7f, good to firm) but hasn’t been in quite the same form in two subsequent sprints; upped in class today and has stamina to prove over 7f; others more persuasive.

7 Red Artist – Lightly raced 3yo who improved to make winning seasonal debut at Wolverhampton (6f, AW) in April; comfortably held on both subsequent turf starts but ran better than bare form suggests when sixth of seven at Doncaster (1m, good to soft) on the more recent occasion and might fare better now dropped back in trip, on faster ground and with first-time visor fitted.

8 Force – Comfortbly won a 6f Haydock maiden in first-time hood for John Gosden in September but hasn’t shown his best in three handicaps for new stable this year (6f-7.5f); some excuses can be made for him and he can’t be written off just yet, but he has more to prove than some.

9 Here’s Two  – Has displayed improvement on each of her four starts since returning to action in March, winning twice (1m, AW/7f, good); been raised another 5lb since finishing second at Newbury (1m, soft) last month and needs to prove she’s effective on fast ground, but still has plenty going for her.

myracing Forecast Prices: 9/2 Realize, 5/1 Fast Dancer, Here’s Two, 6/1 Haley Bop, 7/1 Red Artist, 8/1 Outer Space, Koptoon, 10/1 Firmdecisions, Force,