Steve Ryder is back with three tips for today's action.
15:42 Sandown
The Rod Millman trained SAFARI DREAM (best priced at 3/1) ran well on his first three starts before getting off the mark on his handicap debut over this course and distance last time. The two-year-old finished a neck 2nd on his debut before finishing 3rd at Windsor on his next start. He finished midfield in the Super Sprint at Newbury before making a winning handicap debut last time off an opening mark of 74.
The handicapper has raised Safari Dream 8lbs for that 3 ½ length victory which is fair and I expect him to continue his good course form.
16:12 Sandown
The only disappointing run in the career of IKHTIRAAQ (best priced at 5/2) was on his stable debut for Sir Michael Stoute and he has since bounced back to win his latest two starts. The unexposed three-year-old won by a nose off a mark of 79 at Yarmouth before defying a 4lb rise to win at Pontefract by 2 ¾ lengths.
That victory only came a week ago so he runs with a 6lb penalty in this race but I expect this lightly raced gelding to complete the hat-trick.
18:42 Sandown
The Charlie & Mark Johnston trained HAPPY (best priced at 11/1) has run well on both of his starts at Sandown and he is interesting now fitted with headgear for the first time. The four-year-old finished a close 4th over this course and distance in July off a mark of 82 under Oliver Stammers before finishing a neck 2nd off 1lb lower over the same course and distance on his penultimate start.
Happy finished a close 3rd at Musselburgh last time when only beaten ¾ length and it surprises me that he has been left unchanged on that mark. Connections now fit the Galileo gelding with a first time visor and he should run well with Oliver Stammers back on board claiming 3lbs and up to five places on offer.
