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This is a competitive handicap over a mile and two furlongs, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.
IN SUMMARY: There is a lot to like about James Fanshawe’s MASTER ARCHER here and he can win this today. He was gently ridden in a maiden earlier this month and he begins his handicap career off a lenient mark and he can punish the handicapper here. Glorious Forever should run a good race having beaten a smart rival on his final start of the season whilst Nick Vedder is worth close attention in the betting.
1 WHIP NAE NAE – Just got home on his final start of last season to win by a nose in a Wolverhampton maiden. He had gone close in a competitive Class 2 handicap at Newmarket previous to that and he’s only 3lbs higher than that mark today. He’s probably got something to find with a few of these but there should be more to come at 3 for a horse that has only finished out of the places on one occasion from 6 races.
2 GLORIOUS FOREVER – Got the better of Jewel House on his final start of last season and that form looks relatively smart given that rival went on to win a Newmarket handicap last week. The step up in trip looks sure to suit given he’s by Archipenko and the yard do well here with a solid 15% strike rate from 33 runners so there’s plenty to like about his chances today. One of the likelier winners of this.
3 BUSH HOUSE – Out ran his odds in a decent handicap at Doncaster earlier this month to finish fourth of a ten strong field. The handicapper has left him on the same mark which looks fair on that effort and the ease in grade should see him do better here. He doesn’t look to have much in hand off this mark although like many in this race he is still unexposed and should improve again. Others make more appeal today for a yard that has been failing to fire recently.
4 PIRATE LOOK – Droppped 1lb for a 2 3/4 length defeat in a Class 3 handicap at Newcastle last November and he’s been kept off the track since. He’ll appreciate this step up to a mile and two furlongs given his dam’s sire is Galileo although he doesn’t have the form of some of these. Stall 11 is less than ideal and he will need to improve a great deal to win this today. Marco Botti has a 12% strike rate at Doncaster.
5 ELDRITCH – Once-raced colt who beat the well-regarded Dubawi Prince on debut at Haydock in a Class 4 maiden. That rival went on to win but was well-beaten in a handicap subsequently so there are mixed signals as to the overall strength of the form. He steps up in trip today for a yard in frightening form of late (38% strike rate, 17 winners from their last 45 runners). Open to any amount of improvement and likely to be ready for this today on handicap debut.
6 VANITY QUEEN – Mixed bag of performances last year from Luca Cumani’s filly who disappointed in a 3 runner handicap off a mark of 77. She couldn’t do any better at Yarmouth in September when beaten 3 3/4 lengths off 1lb higher (78) and this mark still looks stiff enough on what she has achieved to date. Luke Morris rides her over Pirate Look which is positive but she may need this run off a 227-day break although the yard excel here (22% strike rate from 85 runners).
7 MASTER ARCHER – Handicap debut today off a reasonable handicap mark. He was beaten by the smart Son Of The Stars at Kempton in December and he was given an easy enough time on his seasonal return at Windsor just 18 days ago. He will come on a lot for that return to action and he could be lingering on a dangerous mark here. George Wood takes the ride and claims 5lbs and he’s worth close market attention.
8 MELTING DEW – Just got the better of Muqaatil in a Class 5 maiden in November of last year. He had shaped with promise on a couple of occasions prior to that and connections will be disappointed if they can’t get any improvement out of him on a mark of 76. He’ll have to be race fit today but he’s a likely type to improve for a yard that boasts an incredible 32% strike rate at Doncaster. Respected.
9 NICK VEDDER – Comfortably won a Class 5 handicap at Newcastle at the end of March off a mark of 67. He beat a nice sort that day and the handicapper may have let him off lightly with only a 6lb rise in the weights. This will obviously require more but this yard does well with their handicappers and it would be no surprise to see him run well again. He may find this slightly too tough today but he’s impossible to rule out.
10 CASTELLATED – Second runner in this for Richard Hannon and she is a nice Teofilo filly. She improved for the step up in trip at Bath in October to win by a nose in a weak maiden and she should come on for that now entered into handicaps over the same trip. She may just need this off a 198-day break although she should show she’s better than a mark of 73 in time. Richard Hannon has a 20% strike rate in the past fortnight.
11 CITY DREAMER – Had shown some modest form in three weak maidens before being thrashed off a mark of 70 at Windsor last October. He’s only been dropped 3lbs for that effort and he doesn’t look particularly well-treated off this mark and he may just need this run off a lay off. The yard have sent out two winners from 15 runners here and others make more appeal today.