3.00pm Leicester Tips & Betting Preview 17/10/2017

A competitive looking handicap over 7f for a prize of £15,753. Read on for expert analysis and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: LONDON won easily last time and looked one to follow that day. He can take this at the expense of Sir Dancealot who has run well in group company recently and Emmaus who is completely unexposed.

1 CUSTOM CUT – A likeable eight-year-old who has won 13 career starts, including at group level and has been as high as 117 in the handicap. He races off 107 now and must be of interest, despite his below par form since a Group 3 win in May.

2 SIR DANCEALOT – Was a close second in the Bunbury Cup before being sent off a short priced favourite for the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood where nothing went right. He has run well in group races since and a mark of 109 could be within his capabilities; interesting.

3 VON BLUCHER – Has run some nice races in big field handicaps, including with a three length sixth in the Bunbury Cup. However, his second to Jallota in a listed race at Redcar saw him go up four pounds to 99 and that seemed slightly out of his reach last time.

4 EMMAUS – The most unexposed of this field and falls into the ‘could be anything category’. Showed a good attitude when winning his maiden and then finished two lengths behind the classy Al Wukair when last seen. Very interesting.

5 RENE MATHIS – Won two starts ago at Thirsk, beating today’s rival Custom Cut and was then given a break. Trailed in last on his reappearance in the Gold Cup at Haydock behind Donjuan Triumphant, but has an each way shout if he has come on for that.

6 WAR GLORY – A consistent type, but one who doesn’t do very much winning and his handicap mark doesn’t look a gift for win purposes. It will be no surprise to see him run a solid race, but others are more reliable for a win bet.

7 VIA VIA – Has had just six starts and is already five years old, but is interesting nonetheless. Won three of those starts, including two on the bounce in March this year. Is now rated 89, but there should be more improvement left and can’t be discounted.

8 CAPTAIN COLBY – Won the Portland at Doncaster off a mark of 95 and is off 96 here so is clearly feasibly handicapped on his best form, but he has been below par in the majority of his efforts this year. Tries a new trip, however, and is one to consider in a very open race.

9 GEORGIAN BAY – Won at Ascot last time he was seen on turf, but that was off an 11 pound lower mark and this is a much tougher race, even without the extra weight being taken into account. Will need to improve to win this and others are preferred.

10 LONDON – Won easily off a mark of 80 last time out and, despite being a chunk higher in the weights (off 96 today), he remains of interest. He is 2-2 over this trip in handicap company and the ease with which he won last time suggests more is to come.

11 HYDE PARK – Bumped into well handicapped and progressive rivals in his last two starts, but wasn’t disgraced and both those winners have gone on to frank the form nicely. Will need to improve again to win this, but is of interest.