Sandown - Friday 13th June

 I will not be at Sandown on Friday but it is a cracking card and I think it's worth getting involved in. 

13:30, Chris Barnett Memorial Handicap

Good Earth 6/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

Michael Herrington's admirable 8 year old loves it at Sandown and is twice a previous winner here. He's now back down to a winnable mark and is drawn well in stall 2. He breaks well and has been running well without being shown to best effect the last couple of runs. He's back to his favourite track and the stable looks like it has just hit a bit of form too. Jockey gets on well with him. 

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15:50, Tom Jones At Sandown Park 30th July Handicap

Criminal 7/1, 2pts each-way (3 places)

I was at Kempton to see Richard Hughes' 3 year old make his debut in April. I thought he looked like a horse to follow that day as he completely blew the turn but stayed on well once straightened out late on. That was a fair race to debut in as the winner has been tried at Listed level since and the runner-up has now won a race. Criminal was stepped up to about this distance on his second start to finish 3rd in a maiden at Chester. That was another fair effort in what looked a good race. He was dropped back to a mile last time out when he finished 4th at Wolverhampton to gain a handicap mark. The winner that day has won again since and looks like a very classy individual. He's now pitched into a handicap and back up to a trip which should suit on breeding, being by stamina influencing sire Sea The Moon. The trainer has put William Buick up in the saddle which speaks volumes, especially now the stable looks to have come into some good form. I'd be hopeful of a big run. 

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17:00, Texas At Sandown Park 7th August Handicap

Personal Best 16/1, 0.75pts each-way (3 places)

I'm happy to take a bit of a poke about Personal Best at big odds in the long distance handicap. The stable is going well at the moment and this 3 year old filly has looked as though a step up in trip should bring about some improvement. She's been running in decent handicaps on the all-weather of late and she's well handicapped on the second of those runs. She's unexposed and I think she's overpriced.