By Tony Calvin - 25 August 2025
Kokanee and Whathappensinvegas are due to run on Thursday, so leave them alone for now.
In addition, Desert Shadow, Gaassee, Nepal, Patagonia Girl and Something Splendid are double-entered this week.
Six bookmakers (effectively four) have priced this up and there is no surprise to see Crown Of Oaks head the betting, with one outfit sticking him in at a top-priced 3s.
The Ayr winner is bred to be a lot better than his current mark of 85, and no-one is going to be shocked if he sluices in.
The ground at Beverley is good to firm but there is rain about all week (see below), so factor that in.
Titian will certainly not be inconvenienced by any downpours, and he is a credible 14s chance (all firms are betting 1/4 1,2,3,4).
He was second of five in a race of this name here in 2021 (at this time of the year), but it was a 0-105 then and presumably it has had a few tweaks since then as it is now a 0-85.
Brave Mission, Carron, Defence Minister, God Of War, Headmaster, Huscal, Kindest Nation, Kodi Lion, Rhyme Dust, Sterling Knight, Tarkhan and Yokkell are double-entered, so they wouldn’t be for me in this 7f handicap.
Only five firms have priced this up (effectively three) and I am surprised they have bothered.
The three horses that head their betting (Kodi Lion, Defence Minister and Brave Mission) all have other options this week. In fact, they are all in a 7f handicap at Thirsk on Friday.
The yr.no forecast for Sandown has worsened overnight.
As of 5.30am Wednesday morning (other sites may be less but all now have rain every day, it seems), it currently has 3.7mm Wednesday, 2.4mm Thursday, 15mm Friday, and 8.5mm Saturday (from 1pm).
It may change back again – in fact the yr.no site is famous for its shifts back and forth – but that’s the current forecast.
Regional is the early [5/2] favourite for the Beverley Bullet, which has attracted 21 five-day entries.
Against The Wind and the moody Clarendon House are currently due to run on Thursday, so I’d steer clear of them for ante-post purposes, and the 77-rated Emerald’s Pride (I know these sprints are wide-open, but come on!…) is also in a 0-85 handicap at Sandown on Saturday.
The unpenalized Regional should be winning this Listed race but he is also in the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock a week on Saturday, a race he won in 2023.
Will he swerve this and go straight to Newton-le-Willows?
Something to ponder, though I guess he could do both.
However, I certainly wouldn’t go near him at the moment until connections state their position as to current running plans.
A very healthy five-day entry but the following are double-entered: Bright Thunder, Imperial Quarter, Lady Of Spain, Skellet and Suite Francaise (all in at Ireland at the weekend still).
I love the latter, who did me a favour when winning in style at Haydock last time, and 14s would possibly have lured me in had she not been in two early-closers in Ireland at the weekend.
We will know if she has been confirmed for either of those on Tuesday afternoon.
However, it is a hugely deep race at the moment for a contest that can house 17 on the day, and the rain throughout the week may not be ideal for her.
I’ll probably sit on my hands even if her Irish options are withdrawn.
She has been left in at Tipperary on Sunday, so there is definitely nothing doing here.
Just seven firms (effectively five) have priced up this 60k 1m6f+ Listed race up, and all have Hamish as their market leader.
He ranges from [7/4] to [5/2], and he will devour any drop of rain that falls in the next five days (see current Chester forecast below).
His stablemate Sam Hawkens (who I thought was Australia-bound – so this may be his last hurrah here) is available at 7s, with Taipan at 5s and Tabletalk at 6s.
Not a race that appeals at the moment, with no double-entries to help with narrowing down the field.
Andaleep and Father Of Jazz are set to run on Thursday, and Gaassee is double-entered.
Only four firms have priced this up so far (effectively two) and they make Dangerman their favourite at [7/2], just ahead of 4s poke Saddadd.
That seems fair enough.
Blue Prince and Mysteryofthesands are due to run on Thursday, and Bobby Bennu, God Of War, Huscal, Kindest Nation, Probe, Sir Paul Ramsey, Tarkhan are double-entered.
A very good five-day entry of 27 for a 100k 7f+ handicap that can house 17 on the day according to the Racing Post site (that surprised me), so if we get a full field the draw on Thursday morning will be crucial here.
As may the rain Chester are forecast.
I couldn’t see any betting on this at first (it isn’t on Oddschecker), but one bookmaking outfit have priced it up and they make Linwood and El Burhan their joint-favourites at 6s.
Even with 11 five-day entries, hopes will still be pretty high at Sandown that the Group 3 Solario Stakes will get a double-digit field on Saturday.
Maybe Charlie Appleby will only run one of his pair, Wild Desert and Pacific Avenue, so bear that in mind.
It sounds like Sandown will make a call as to whether to resume watering early today (Tuesday morning) but the main forecast I use currently has a fair bit of rain coming on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and more late on Saturday (see below).
Update as at 8.51am Tuesday – ” 3-5mm selective watering Tuesday on all quicker areas to even up – mainly latter half of back straight.”
Course winner Publish, trained by the Gosdens, is the early [6/4] favourite ahead of the aforementioned Wild Desert at [7/2], with Zanthos at 4s and Pacific Avenue at [9/2].
It is then 12s bar those four.
The Gozzas and Appleby have won the last four runnings of this race between them (as well as one victory apiece in 2017 and 2018).
I have no idea if she is an intended runner but the 4s about Zanthos in two places looks a touch on the large side.
A 1m euros Breeze-Up purchase in May (what a game that is) , she was very impressive when winning on her debut on the July course earlier this month.
None of the five horses she beat there have raced since, but there was no denying the authority of the performance and the time was decent.
She could well go off favourite at the weekend, if running.
I’m not betting myself though, to be clear.
A representative of her owners told the Racing Post today: “We’d like to run Zanthos at Sandown but we’ll know more in the next 24 hours. The attraction of the Solario is the timing as it’s three weeks since her debut and then another three weeks until the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket, which seems the logical target.
“She’s short on experience but the only other race was the Prestige at Goodwood last weekend and that was going to come a bit quick. It depends how she goes in her work. If she was to miss Sandown, she’d go for the May Hill at Doncaster, which would then send us down the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile route.”
GOING: Good
Going stick: 6.3, Thursday 8am
46% soil moisture
Thursday morning course update: 0.5mm rain in light shower Tuesday. 1.2mm rain Wednesday. Very heavy dew Thursday morning. Scattered showers possible Thursday from 10am. Still uncertainty at this stage as to rainfall volumes on Friday, with a wet morning possible on some forecasts. Drier then until Saturday afternoon when a further wet spell is possible, but now likely to be after racing.
Rails: Rail out up to 5 yards from 1m to WP Friday. Inner configuration Saturday.
Stalls: Sprint Course – Far Side (4 yards in) Remainder – Inside
Watering details : Irrigation 7.5mm Saturday. 3-5mm selective watering Tuesday on all quicker areas to even up – mainly latter half of back straight. No further watering planned.
Weather: 2.1mm Thursday, 6.1mm Friday, 2.7mm Saturday (from 4pm)
GOING: Good to firm, good in places
Going Stick : 7.0, Thursday 7am
Thursday morning course update: 1mm of rain on Tuesday Thu – 21°/11° sunny intervals and light winds Fri – 20°/11° sunny intervals and a gentle breeze Sat – 22°/13° mainly cloudy, chance of showers from late afternoon
Stalls: Inside all races
Watering details : 4mm applied on Wednesday night after rain failed to arrive
Weather: 3.8mm Thursday, 2.2mm Saturday
GOING: Good, good to firm in places
Going Stick : 7.6, Thursday 7am
Thursday morning course update: 1mm rain over the last 48 hours. Showers, potentially thundery, forecast through this afternoon. Expecting a minimum of 4mm. Tomorrow looking dry on the whole. Raceday currently forecast for light showers through the afternoon with highs of 18’C and a 16mph Southerly breeze.
Stalls: 1m2f – Outside Remainder – Inside
Watering details : No details given as yet
Weather: 2.6mm Thursday, 2.9mm Friday, 4.8mm Saturday
1.30pm Beverley: Gaassee, Kokanee (confirmed to run on Thursday), Nepal (due to run Friday), Patagonia Girl (due to run on Friday), Something Splendid (due to run on Friday), Whathappensinvegas (confirmed to run on Thursday),
1.50pm Sandown: Carron (due to run on Friday), God Of War, Huscal, Kindest Nation, Sterling Knight (due to run on Friday), Tarkhan
2.05pm Beverley: Against The Wind (confirmed to run on Thursday), Clarendon House (confirmed to run on Thursday), Emeralds Pride
2.25pm Sandown: Bright Thunder, Imperial Quarter, Lady Of Spain, Skellet, Suite Francaise
2.40pm Chester: NONE
3pm Sandown: Andaleep (confirmed to run on Thursday), Father Of Jazz (confirmed to run on Thursday), Gaassee
3.15pm Chester: Blue Prince (confirmed to run on Thursday), Bobby Bennu (due to run on Friday), God Of War, Huscal, Kindest Nation, Mysteryofthesands (confirmed to run on Thursday), Tarkhan
3.35pm Sandown: NONE
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