This is a Class 4 handicap raced over 6f, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.
IN SUMMARY: This is an interesting little handicap and the vote goes to BAHAMIAN DOLLAR. He’s clearly well-treated having finished second off this mark last time out and he can make amends here with a victory in conditions that are sure to suit. King Of Spin looks to be his biggest danger although the ground is a concern whilst Picket Line may be able to run into a place given he remains well-treated at the weights.
1 LAWMAKING – Had shown some promise in France over this sort of trip last year but he’s gone completely off the boil since. He’s been beaten a long way in two handicaps for the Henry Spiller yard and he arrives here off the back of a 19 1/2 length defeat in a Class 3 handicap last time out. He should improve from that first run following a gelding operation although his form is a long way off what is required today. Opposed.
2 COOL BAHAMIAN – Races off his last winning mark today following some comfortable defeats off a few pounds higher. He has been beaten in similar company to today’s on his last two starts so that gives him something to prove although the yard have a 25% strike rate in the past fortnight and he’s clearly on a workable mark. One that could run on into a place but others make more appeal for win purposes.
3 PRETTY BUBBLES – Ran some fine races for connections over the winter and she remains one pound higher than her last winning mark which came in a Class 4 handicap on the All-Weather. She hasn’t been disgraced in similar contests to this recently and James Doyle is an interesting booking for this C&D winner. Another in this that needs to step forward to come out on top but she’s not without hope.
4 KING OF SPIN – Richard Hughes has been in excellent form of late with a 23% strike rate in the past fortnight but his runner isn’t sure to feature here having never run on ground faster than Good. He’s done well in two starts for this yard this year having won on stable debut over C&D and he followed that up with a fair fourth off one pound higher last time out. More needed here on ground that may not be ideal.
5 GINZAN – Malcolm Saunders’ mare has been a good servant to connections but she looks up against it here. She’s only 2lbs lower for a heavy defeat in similar company to this last time out although the Soft ground may have just caught her out that day. This trip looks to stretch her slightly having done her best work over shorter over the last year or so and she’s opposed today with some nicer sorts in opposition.
6 HANDYTALK – Finished third behind Noble Peace at Goodwood last time out and he’s left on a mark of 78 today. That looks fair having been in good form of late but he remains with just one success in 15 career starts and he’s beginning to look a little bit tricky to win with. He doesn’t look particularly well-treated today and there appear to be better handicapped rivals in opposition. Pat Dobbs is a positive booking though.
7 BAHAMIAN DOLLAR – It’s no surprise to see David Evans’ runner turned out quickly having just been touched off by a short head off this mark last time out. He was well-supported that day and will be again in this racing off the same mark with Katherine Glenister’s 7lb claim to help him in conditions that are sure to suit. He has a big chance of finally getting off the mark as a 4yo and he deserves plenty of respect today.
8 WHITECREST – Makes her 106th career start today and she continues to perform with credit at the grand age of 9. She recorded a hat-trick of wins earlier this season and that saw her mark shoot up from 60 to today’s rating of 74 which looks to have finally caught up with her. This is tougher than many of her races this season and this mark looks enough to stop her from troubling the leaders today.
9 PICKET LINE – Won a C&D handicap back in May off a 2lb lower mark and Geoffrey Deacon’s runner looks fairly treated having been dropped a pound for a fair fourth placed effort last time out. He receives a good bit of weight from his rivals in this and may be able to get into contention although this is a step back up in grade which will ask more of him. Worth keeping onside in this with more still to come.