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This is a Class 5 handicap over a mile, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.
IN SUMMARY: This is a wide open handicap and the vote goes to PHOSPHORESCENCE. George Scott’s runner seeks a hat-trick of wins today and he can do just that with a 5lb claimer negating his ascent up the weights. He will attempt to make all and can serve it up to his rivals here. A 6lb penalty could finally end the excellent form of Believe It whilst Gracious George could bounce back to form at a bigger price.
1 BELIEVE IT – Has been in excellent form of late with three wins from his last four starts. He arrives here on the back of a 1-length success at Kempton a week ago and he races with a 6lb penalty leaving him on an effective mark of 83 which looks like it could just stop him today. He’s stepped back up to a mile which looks ideal and stall 3 is fine so he should go well but this would take an extraordinary effort to win again.
2 VENUTIUS – (Non-Runner)
3 PHOSPHORESCENCE – Has shown clear improvement for the application of blinkers which has seen him win his last two starts. He’s the definite pace angle in this having made all on his last two starts although he is likely to be challenged for the lead and stall 11 makes life slightly tougher. A 5lb claimer is used today to ease the burden of a 2lb rise in the handicap and he should give his running again. Respected now seeking a hat-trick of wins.
4 SPIRITUAL STAR – Model of consistency with four placed efforts and a win from his last five starts. He was only beaten a head last time out but that was still disappointing having been sent off 8/11 in a seller and this is a step up in grade today. He’s back up a pound and doesn’t look that harshly treated at the weights and the useful Ben Robinson claims 5lbs today. Interesting sort but thoroughly exposed.
5 ATAMAN – 12-race maiden and he ran no sort of race at Sandown last time out when finishing eighth of eleven, beaten 17 lengths. He’s only down a pound for that run and he still looks poorly treated at the weights based on his overall form. Stall 2 is fine but he’s evidently not an easy sort and the yard are without a winner from their last 6 runners. Best watched today.
6 EBBISHAM – Won a Class 6 handicap over C&D back in April and he struggled off a 6lb higher mark on the turf last time out. He should improve for the switch back to sand and whilst this is a tougher grade, he should be able to get in the mix off what looks to be a reasonable mark. No Pat Cosgrave is a negative and others make slightly more appeal today.
7 CAT SILVER – Lightly-raced sort who drops in grade into a Class 5 handicap for the first time today. He finished last of twelve over C&D last time out but he was only beaten 6 lengths and has been dropped 3lbs for that run. It’s not inconceivable that he bounces right back to form today although the yard have only sent out one winner from their last 22 runners. Market support would be significant.
8 EASY CODE – Without a success in handicap company and he’s stepped right up in trip today. He won a 6 furlong maiden at Pontefract as a 2yo and struggled for form right throughout his 3yo career which saw him plummet in the weights. He will improve for his seasonal reappearance although this trip is a bit of an unknown and there are safer prospects in this.
9 GRACIOUS GEORGE – Has been comfortably held on every start since completing a double over a mile at Chelmsford back in March. He’s slipped back down to a mark of 65 which leaves him four pounds lower than his last winning mark so he’s arguably well-treated. The useful Rossa Ryan claims 5lbs today so there are a few positives about him in this. Worth a second look in the betting.
10 MUTHRAAB ALDAAR – Second runner in this for Jim Boyle and he arrives here on the back of a good success at Wolverhampton earlier this month. That came off a 6lb lower mark but he won convincingly that day and a 5lb claimer negates much of his penalty. Stall 6 shouldn’t be a problem and he can improve again now kept over a mile on the sand. Respected.
11 BE ROYALE – Without a win since late last year and most of her successes have come over shorter than a mile. The switch to a less competitive race will help as will the All-Weather surface and she gets the assistance of Raymond Dawson who has won once from his last 9 rides. This falling mark will help but the trip doesn’t look ideal and others are preferred.
12 SECRET GLANCE – Has switched hands twice this year and he makes his second start for Adrian Wintle today. He wasn’t beaten all that far at Southwell last time out and he should improve for this faster surface although all 3 of his career successes have come on the turf. This mark looks fair (down a pound from his last run) but he is evidently better on turf and may be best opposed.
13 RUNAIOCHT – 3 wins from 54 career starts tells its own tale and he looks up against it here from stall 13. He’s been well-beaten on most of his starts this year although he did pop up with a neck success at Wolverhampton in February off a 1lb lower mark. He failed to build on that effort and he’s best watched today for a yard with a poor 8% strike rate at Kempton.
14 BLACKTHORN STICK – Second of two runners for Paul Burgoyne and he races from 5lbs out of the handicap today. That makes a difficult task even harder and he’s without a success since April 2016 which came over 7 furlongs at Kempton off a mark of 57. Georgia Dobie claims 7lbs and it would be a surprise to see her mount come home in front today.