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This is a tricky handicap over a mile and two furlongs, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.
IN SUMMARY: Brian Meehan has an outstanding 37% strike rate at Bath and he can extend that here with PACK IT IN. He was well-supported on his last start having been sent off the 5/2 favourite but he was far too keen and pulled hard early which scuppered any chance of success. He should do better here off the same mark and he can take advantage of a modest bunch at a very fair price. East India is on a dangerous mark off just 74 on his first flat start for six months and can follow him home. Attain is another one to note for the in-form Archie Watson stable off a fair mark having finished third on his last start.
1 GOLD FLASH – Hugo Froud’s runner has been comfortably held in two stronger handicaps than this on his last two starts. He was sent off at 66/1 in a Class 3 Windsor contest last month off a mark of 79 and he was never able to mount a challenge against much better opposition. He’s dropped 2lbs in the weights and moves down to Class 5 company today but the step up in trip to a mile and two furlongs may stretch him too far and he’s opposed in this.
2 RUSSIAN REWARD – Arrives here on the back of a comfortable defeat over today’s trip at Lingfield earlier this month. He races off a 2lb higher mark now on the turf and that leaves him 5lbs higher than his last winning mark so he makes limited appeal on today’s terms. Connections turn him out quickly so he’s clearly in good order but the yard are without a winner from their last 14 runners and others are preferred.
3 EAST INDIA – Hasn’t won since July 2014 which came over 7 furlongs for Aidan O’Brien. He’s clearly had a few problems since and was tried over hurdles last month in an attempt to freshen him up before returning to his flat campaign this summer. He was beaten 2 lengths by Bridge Of Sighs last September but is 3lbs better off with that rival today and he should get much closer with a recent run under his belt.
4 BRIDGE OF SIGHS – Has been on the go over the Winter but has failed to score since September when winning off a 2lb lower mark at Brighton. That came over today’s trip and the conditions should be perfect for him back on the turf with Milly Naseb claiming a valuable 7lbs. He’ll need something of a career best to score here and he has something to find with Russian Reward having finished 3 lengths behind him on his last start.
5 GLENS WOBBLY – Ended a long losing run in style last Summer when hacking up over 1m 4f at Chepstow, running out a 15-length winner. He’s struggled ever since off marks in the 70’s although he did show a small return to form just 5 days ago when fourth of ten, beaten just 3 lengths by a nice sort. Jordan Uys claims 7lbs which will certainly help but this shorter trip doesn’t look ideal and he’ll need to stretch his opponents out from the front if he’s to be successful here.
6 PACK IT IN – Youngest runner in this field and he’s still relatively unexposed with 11 eleven runs to his name. He won a three-runner contest at Lingfield last summer off a mark of 70 and the handicapper was sensible only to raise him 2lbs following that success. He remains on a mark of 72 which doesn’t give him much to work with having been beaten 4 and 10 lengths off this mark before. He was well-supported on his last start when sent off the 5/2 favourite and Brian Meehan has an excellent 37% strike rate here.
7 SAINT HELENA – A thoroughly exposed mare who was last seen being pulled up at Taunton at the end of last year over hurdles. Her flat form is decidedly average having been beaten in Class 5 company on her last four starts off marks from 61 to 70 and she remains 2lbs higher than her last winning mark on the turf. That came in a weaker grade than this and she’s best avoided today off a break.
8 ATTAIN – Well-supported off this mark at Bath last month when sent off the 5/2 favourite. He finished third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths off this mark and he should go close again off a mark of 63 although he’s not exactly hiding anything from the handicapper. Archie Watson is one of the only trainers in this in any sort of form (2 winners from his last 9 runners) and Ed Greatrex claims 3lbs again which will help. Can’t be ruled out.