IN SUMMARY: SILVER GHOST has been performing well in top class handicaps and a repeat of his last run should see him very difficult to beat here. His run behind Brorocco represents top class handicap form while Tomahawk Kid is interesting back in the hands of champion jockey elect Silvestre de Sousa.
1 SILVER GHOST – Has enjoyed an excellent season for Eve Johnson Houghton and ran another big race when second to Brorocco last time. The winner was beaten just three lengths in the Cambridgeshire and that form looks very strong – he must have a huge shout here.
2 INDIAN CHIEF – The handicapper has looked slightly in charge since this one went up eight pounds for an absolute romp at Hamilton. He will need to find some improvement to make a big impact here, but he may still hold an each way chance.
3 COMPTON MILL – Ran well a number of times this year, but was well beaten by the reopposing Silver Ghost over this trip at Epsom in June. He has his work cut out to be turning that form around, even with some improvement.
4 TOMAHAWK KID – Ran his very best race of the year at this venue when second. He had Silvestre de Sousa on board that day and he takes over the reigns again here. he’s racing off a lower mark than that day and is of interest based on that run.
5 BOYCIE – A half length win off a mark of 74 back in May with none other than Silver Ghost back in second makes him of natural interest, racing off just a two pound higher mark today. He hasn’t been in great form of late though and it will take a revival of sorts for him to be winning here.
6 MININGROCKS – Feasibly handicapped on his best form having won off just a pound lower this year, but his recent runs have been less than inspiring. He will have to regain his earlier level of form to have a say here.
7 BONNIE ARLENE – Has looked as if she is slightly under the grip of the handicapper since being put up four pounds for a win at Musselburgh. Her last couple of runs have been well below par and she isn’t overly interesting in this type of field.
8 POLAR FOREST – Has run a few races which would imply that he could have a race in him off a mark of 70. That said, this is a very competitive race and others appeal as much more obviously well handicapped. Not too difficult to pass over.
9 HARMONISE – Well beaten on all her starts since winning at Newmarket in May. Despite tumbling back down in the weights to that winning mark, she doesn’t jump off the page as one to recommend given her poor form coming into a competitive race, even with the addition of a hood for the first time
10 PAROLE – Has run a few nice races recently, yet he is three pounds out of the handicap here and it will be very difficult to win a race like this when wrong at the weights.
11 JACK OF DIAMONDS – Back in form lately with a second followed up by a win last time at Wolverhampton. He is another, however, who is three pounds out of the weights here and it’s hard to see him making a big impact with that being the case.
12 DUCK EGG BLUE – A consistent enough type who has been placed on her last four starts, but she is officially rated 70 and is forced to run off 74 here. It would take a mighty effort to win this from so far out of the handicap in the form she is in.
13 THE GAY CAVALIER – Has not been particularly good of late and races off four pounds higher than his official mark here. Hard to recommend.
14 LORD FRANKLIN – A veteran who has won three times at the course and clearly loves it here, but he is out of the handicap and looks firmly on the downgrade in general as he gets older. One to watch rather than to have a bet on.
15 SIR JACK – Has run some good races this season, but has been plunged into a very competitive event running off nine pounds higher than his official mark here and looks out of his depth.
16 DELLA VALLE – Ran her best race of the season back in July at Doncaster when beaten just a neck. However, she has been poor since and is ten pounds wrong at the weights here – not much to like as a betting proposition.