8.00pm Bath Tips & Betting Preview 21/04/2017

This is a competitive handicap over an extended 5 furlongs, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: This is a competitive handicap and a chance is taken on SUPER JULIUS. He’s yet to win in handicap company but this is a significantly easier task than his last few assignments and he could defy the handicapper here back in Class 4 company. Ashwaq is open to plenty of progression whilst any support for Cajmere would be significant although he has to prove he’s as effective on turf as he is on the All-Weather.

1 SAYESSE – Shoulders top weight here over an extended five furlongs having won over this trip at Chester late last year. He’s full of speed as you would expect and he was just outpointed at Kempton when finishing fourth of seven behind an unexposed sort. He’s left on the same mark and he should strip fitter here but stall 8 is far from ideal and he gives plenty of weight away.

2 SUPER JULIUS – Lovely Bated Breath gelding who won once last year by a comfortable 3 3/4 lengths which came in a Novice Stakes race. He’s struggled in tougher company than this since and steps down significantly in grade here on seasonal reappearance. The yard’s record of 4 winners from 63 runners is slightly off-putting although he’s still potentially on a workable mark and market support would be interesting.

3 CAJMERE – Exposed sort who is 2lbs higher than his last winning mark which came at Wolverhampton over 5 furlongs in January. He was well-beaten in a similar race to this off just 1lb higher back in February and he would do well to concede weight here to some better weighted rivals. Yard don’t send many runners here although he’s still to prove he’s as effective on turf as he is on sand.

4 ASHWAQ – Broke his maiden tag on his seasonal reappearance at Kempton back in March but the form has taken some knocks with the second well-beaten since. An opening mark of 77 looks fair for a horse that should come on a lot for that recent run and the Firm ground shouldn’t pose him any issues. The yard have a 16% strike rate here and whilst stall 7 doesn’t make life easy, he could be dangerous if allowed to dominate this.

5 MR POCKET – Broke his maiden tag at the end of last year in a weaker grade than this off a mark of 73 and he’s been raised 3lbs for that effort which looks fair. That victory came over 6 furlongs and he’ll need the blinkers to have the same effect here to be involved having been all-out to win last time out. The Firm ground should be fine having placed on Good to Firm ground previously and stall 1 means he’ll need to break to get a good position.

6 PEACHEY CARNEHAN – No chance last time out behind a runaway winner who has since been raised 9lbs for winning easily. He’s been left on the same mark which looks fair on what he has achieved of late but that still leaves him requiring a career best performance to win and his best form has come on the All-Weather so far. Can’t be discounted but others have more appealing profiles.

7 GOODWOOD CRUSADER – C&D winner who thrived on his return to the turf just a week ago. He won comfortably that day and he races here with a 6lb penalty which puts him well-in at the weights given the handicapper will put him up more for that victory. This is a tougher contest than his last assignment but he’s proven his love for the ground and the yard’s runners are well-capable of winning back to back victories.

8 LADY CRISTAL – Steadily dropping down the weights although she showed signs of revival at Lingfield just over a week ago when a 1/2 a length second over 6 furlongs. The yard have only sent out one winner from their last 30 runners although the booking of Josephine Gordon looks positive here and she receives plenty of weight from her rivals. This is tougher than her last race and she will need to improve to come out on top.

9 KINGS HEART – One victory from 13 starts which came in a Class 6 handicap off a mark of 61 back in August. That came on Good to Soft ground and today’s conditions don’t look ideal having failed to show the same level of form on drier ground. He’s another that receives plenty of weight but this is harder than his latest outing and the yard have a poor 5% strike rate here. Others make more appeal.