SANDOWN PARK 15:50

All 9 ran. Race Distance Adjustment: +13 yds

Time: 1m 45.46s Closing Sectional: (3f): 40.6s (96.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 115%, Betfair SP 99.1%

Most arrived on the up, and as many as 3 were on a hat-trick, though in the event only one of the field stepped it up again, the outsider of the lot, coming through quicker than the other principals, all change inside the last 1f, influenced by the strong pace.

THE EMPEROR WITHIN (FR) drastic change of plan worked a treat with him, held up in the last pair, in contrast to his normal front-running ways, and small forward steps made way for a bigger form leap, helped by the strong gallop and when he made his move (one step ahead of the other principals) but well on top at the line, propelled by the stamina that saw him twice finish second over further recently.

GEORGE (IRE) has a happy knack of squeezing out a little more each race, not enough this time to add to his 3 wins but getting second late on after flagging rivals were in his way for a while; his versatility (with ground and tactics) is a help.

PLUNGER up in trip (and gelded) after his breakthrough at Leicester, a similar scenario (strongly-run race) assisting in a repeat performance, getting him only third in this better grade, seeing it out well, his effort saved up rather too long in hindsight.

WAFY (IRE) hadn't lived up to lofty ambitions but he's probably better handicapped than this suggests, some of his form saying so, and the 3-month absence might have been behind the fact he was slow on the uptake, still last over 1f out, eventually closing in as the prominent racers wilted, strings attached to the surface promise of his finish.

MR TOP HAT tried to make full use of stall 1, but in doing so left himself vulnerable at the finish, kicking on 3f out, those hard yards catching up with him, overwhelmed in the last ½f, clearly still in top form.

MUSHTAQ (IRE) got the most out of his progress, his mark having caught up now, exposed in this stronger handicap, one paced under pressure, albeit keeping closer to the strong pace than the first 4.

GLOBAL CONQUEROR did his winning at Leicester (good ground) and Chelmsford through speed as much as anything, and the softish conditions/uphill finish seemed to drain him, after he went second briefly 1f out, also on the back of an 8-week break; this needn't mean his ceiling has been reached.

STATUARIO still has an unfair fight in handicaps with his mark, and racing just behind the strong pace wasn't ideal, either, weakening in the final 1f.

LORD VETINARI last again, something up with him for now, the fact he raced closest to the leader only so much of an excuse, considering he was done with by 2f out.