6.05pm Sandown Tips & Betting Preview 19/07/2017

A competitive handicap is in prospect as six go to post for the first race of the evening at Sandown on Wednesday, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: With both Tahoo and Fair Cop likely to go forward and force a strong pace, they should set this up for ERISSIMUS MAXIMUS. He needs a strong pace to be seen at best effect over this distance and he got that over course and distance on his penultimate start, finishing strongly and only beaten around a length. He is on the same mark for this assignment and this is an easier race, so he should take all the beating with the ever brilliant Silvestre De Sousa taking the ride.

1 ASCOT DAY – Lightly raced three year old for David Simcock whose first two turf runs are best ignored as they both had excuses. Prior to those two runs, he had run two runs on the all weather for connections, with the latest of those coming at Lingfield in January off a three pound lower mark. He was last seen at Newmarket in a Class 2 event and this is clearly much easier, with his mark being reduced once again. Jim Crowley takes the ride and his claims are obvious, respected.

2 BLITZ – Gained his first win for Clive Cox when taking a Class 4 handicap at Windsor in soft ground conditions which were far from ideal. He rallied very gamely to get back up late on and he’s been raised only four pounds in the handicap, which could be very lenient. He should be much happier back on better ground Hector Crouch retains the ride and offsets three pounds thanks to his claim, so he’s another to consider in a competitive heat.

3 TAHOO – Got the run of the race when making all against the rails at Windsor on his latest start, winning by around half a length and he’s up four pounds as a result. This is tougher against some promising opponents and she’s unlikely to get a soft lead in this race with Fair Cop likely to try and make all back at this trip. She can’t be ruled out entirely with Oisin Murphy taking the ride, but others make more appeal on this occasion.

4 FAIR COP – Made all in comfortable fashion when winning her first race at Windsor back in May and the step up in trip backfired on her latest start when fifth at the same venue. She will be much happier now back down to the five furlong distance and she still remains with potential off a mark of 80, as she is thoroughly unexposed. David Probert takes the ride for Andrew Balding and she looks a sure fire contender.

5 ERISSIMUS MAXIMUS – Finished fourth here over course and distance on his penultimate start, though he was less good on his latest start when only seventh at Leicester on his latest start in May. He needs a strong test to show his best and he should be granted that here with two possible front runners likely to take each other on at the front. He looks a very strong contender under Silvestre De Sousa and should take the beating.

6 DESERT SPORT (NON RUNNER)

7 OCELOT – Two wins from her last three runs for Robert Cowell, taking the second of those at Leicester on her latest start by around two lengths. She has been raised seven pounds as a result which makes things tougher, but the likely strong pace will suit her and there should be more to come from her in tiem after only nine runs. The in form Tom Marquand takes the ride and she looks sure to make her presence felt in this.