8.20pm Sandown Tips & Betting Preview 10/08/2017

This is a Class 5 handicap raced over 1m, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: This race should concern the top two in the handicap and WEALTH TAX can come out on top. He won in good style last time out and he proved he will be right at home on this challenging ground. Finley Marsh negates all of his 6lb penalty and he can complete the double today ahead of High Draw who appears well handicapped for a yard in excellent form.

1 WEALTH TAX – Arrives here on the back of a three length success on Heavy ground at Nottingham a week ago. He thrashed his opponents that day and showed the slow ground to be no problem for him so he’s sure to go well again with a 6lb penalty. Finely Marsh’s 7lb claim counteracts the penalty, so he’s weighted to go very close again in ideal conditions. Respected.

2 HIGH DRAW – Won in France two starts ago but he couldn’t quite follow up that run next time out at Sandown. He bumped into a useful sort that day and he’s dropped in grade today so there’s every chance a more positive showing is possible. A mark of 73 remains fair and he’s worth a second look in the betting for a yard flying at present (23% strike rate in the past fortnight).

3 ROCK WARBLER – Notched up a series of wins over the winter and he makes just his third start of this turf campaign. He still seeks his first win on turf but he wasn’t beaten all that far at Haydock last time out and he’s 3lbs lower today. He looks weighted up to his best, although this step up in trip back to a mile should definitely suit and a useful 5lb claimer is aboard.

4 BRIDGE OF SIGHS – Makes his first start for Lee Carter today following some mixed performances for the Martin Smith stable. He was only beaten 4 1/2 lengths by Pumblechook at Leicester back in June and that runner has gone on to win again so the form isn’t terrible and he is 2lbs lower today. He may just need this run though and is best watched with some better weighted rivals in opposition.

5 ROCK’N GOLD – Makes his sixth career start today and he needs drastic improvement to have any chance of being involved. He’s only been dropped 4lbs for a 59 length defeat at Kempton last time out and that followed a 13 1/2 length defeat on his first start for the yard. This should be far too tough for him and he’s best watched for a lower grade handicap down the line.

6 RAVENHOE – Mark Johnston’s entry usually runs with credit and he was only beaten a length off a 1lb higher mark at Carlisle last month. He couldn’t quite follow that effort up at Epsom and more is probably needed off this mark given this ground doesn’t look to be his optimum going although he has won on Good to Soft previously. Oisin Murphy is a positive booking though and he’s going to deliver him late.

7 MANY DREAMS – Has won just once in 17 starts and that success came on his first start for Gary Moore at Salisbury in May. He couldn’t follow that success up at Brighton next time out and he went backwards when raced at Windsor earlier last month. He’s been given a small break but a mark of 69 still looks high enough and others make a bit more appeal in this.

8 SPIRITUAL STAR – Second runner in this for Lee Carter and he arrives here with something to prove having finished pulled up on his last start at Kempton. Something was clearly amiss that day and he had shown some fair form previous to that, albeit in weak handicaps and sellers on the All Weather. This may just be too strong for him and others make slightly appeal on these terms.

9 MALT TEASER – John Best’s runner remains relatively lightly raced for a three-year-old and he has a handy three-year-old allowance today. He was only beaten half a length at Lingfield back in June, albeit in a weaker race than this and connections step him down in trip which is an interesting move having tried him over 1m 2f for most of this season. The yard have won with three of their last eight runners (38%).

10 LYRICA’S LION – Second three-year-old in the field who arrives here on the back of a win in a Class 6 Salisbury handicap over 1m 2f last time out. He received a good ride from David Egan that day who remains on board today and he could go well again, although this is significantly tougher on different ground. Market support would be significant.