8.10pm Sandown Tips & Betting Preview 19/07/2017

This is a Class 4 handicap raced over 1m 2f, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: It looks prudent to stick with those at the top of the weights in this and EYNHALLOW can come out on top. He’s an unexposed sort and he has improved dramatically from 2 to 3 having finished first and third on his last two starts. The ground and trip look absolutely perfect for him today and he can resume winning ways at the expense of Okool who is evidently talented, but quirky.

1 OKOOL – Finished 2 lengths behind Crystal Ocean at Nottingham earlier this season who went on to place twice in Group 2 company. He hasn’t matched that sort of form and was bitterly disappointing in a four-runner event at Chester when he finished last, beaten 7 3/4 lengths. He has been gelded since which looks sensible and the yard are operating at a 30% strike rate at present although this is his first run after that operation.

2 EYNHALLOW – Roger Charlton’s runner returned to action like a different horse at Goodwood earlier this season, winning a Class 4 handicap by half a length. He couldn’t quite justify an 8lb rise in the handicap which followed that victory but this is much easier than that race and he should take all the beating today. The ground and trip look in his favour and he should progress again making just his sixth career start today. Respected in this.

3 BUZZ – Was disappointing on his first start in handicap company, finished second-last, beaten 50 lengths in a Class 4 event. He’s obviously better than that and he’s been given some time off the track to get over whatever impeded him that day and Adam Kirby is booked for the first time. The yard are going well of late with an 18% strike rate at present and he would be dangerous to write off although he evidently has something to prove today.

4 SIR PLATO – Goes in search of a hat-trick of wins today and his fifth victory this year. He’s risen 21lbs in the handicap since his first start as a 3yo and he’s hard to gauge having won his last two races by slim margins. He should go well again today although he’s up another 2lbs in the weights and this is a tougher race than his last start. His sole start at 1m 2f was his worst performance of the year so it’s a concern that he’s stepped back up in trip today.

5 MOUILLE POINT – Richard Hannon’s filly was crying out for a step up in trip last season and she’s starting to improve over longer distances this year. She finished third of five last time out when well-supported and there’s a feeling this filly is only starting to come into herself of late and there may well be more to come. The yard have been in moderate form recently with an 11% strike rate and their filly needs to take a further step forward to better that record in this.

6 INTERNATIONAL LAW – Made a good impression on his first start as a 3yo, breaking his maiden tag a shade comfortably having missed the break. He’s not progressed from that run and has found himself well-held in some fairly decent handicaps for this level at Ascot and Haydock. This looks slightly easier but he’s stepped up in trip to 1m 2f which may not suit him as well as a mile and he’s best watched in this.

7 CHANCE TO DREAM – Has been dropped a pound following a moderate effort at Sandown earlier this month, finishing eighth, beaten 4 1/2 lengths. He has an interesting blend of speed and stamina by Dream Ahead out of a Galileo mare although he looks to have it all to do in Class 4 company and it may pay to oppose him now he’s stepped up in trip on faster ground.

8 RITA’S MAN – Second runner in this for Richard Hannon and his Lawman colt arrives here on the back of a poor effort at Windsor last time out. That was too bad to be true and the handicapper may have just caught up with him having struggled following two victories and a placed effort. Silvestre De Sousa is an eye-catching booking, having won on him previously although he has something to prove in this today now kept in Class 4 company off this mark.

9 HAULANI – Has struggled this season off what looks to have been a restrictive handicap mark although there were signs of life at Kempton last time out. The first time cheekpieces saw him perform better than the market suggested although he never threatened the winner. However, connections leave off all the headgear today and he can only be watched on the back of his overall profile as a 3yo. Market support would be interesting though.