There are no fewer than seven meetings on the cards across the UK and Ireland on Thursday, but our focus will be on Sandown’s six-race offering.
Readers can watch the action between 17:45 and 20:15, and barring any late weather changes, the going is expected to be good to soft-soft in places.
Betfred’s “Extra Place” promotion is available in the opening contest and in the finale, with one of our tips running in the latter at 20:15.
18:45 State Of Desire @ 5/2
Charlie Appleby’s STATE OF DESIRE has only been seen on two occasions, but connections will hope it is a case of third-time lucky on Thursday.
The two-year-old finished second at Yarmouth on debut in May, with William Buick unable to guide the 5/6 favourite home in front of Watch My Tracer.
State of Desire then returned in June, finishing runner-up to By The Book at Haydock, but both of those runs suggested plenty of promise.
The son of Frankel will step up in trip to one mile on Thursday, but that should only bring the best out of him. Five of his rivals will run for the first time and State Of Desire certainly has every chance of shedding the maiden tag.
19:15 Muktamil @ 2/1
Connections of MUKTAMIL decided to geld their runner in November after four average runs under trainer Marcus Tregoning.
The three-year-old started his career at Ffos Las, finishing sixth in August 2022, but he did improve to finish fourth at Newbury in September. He repeated that result at Salisbury a few weeks later, but connections clearly saw an issue and he was gelded.
A long break should have allowed him to develop, while the winner of that race at Salisbury, Bluestocking, finished third in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Ascot in June and second at the Curragh in the Group 1 Juddmonte Stakes.
Muktamil has been handed a mark of 74 and that should give Tregoning and his team room to work with.
20:15 Southwold @ 9/2
Four places are up for grabs at Sandown in the finale, but SOUTHWOLD should hopefully not need that buffer.
The four-year-old has only ever won on the All-Weather, but Daniel and Claire Kubler look to have their charge in good shape.
While some of his rivals have been kept busy this year, Southwold did not run between April and June and that break should have done him the world of good.
Cheekpieces are fitted now for the first time, and the booking of Buick is an added bonus.
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