17:00 – Northern Cracksman
17:30 – Rosenpur
18:00 – Miami Matrix
18:30 – Marvellous Lad
19:00 – Busby
19:30 – Pastoral Way (NAP)
20:00 – Manton Road
20:30 – Gemmari
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
This is wide open but NORTHERN CRACKSMAN has thrived over the winter for Lawrence Mullaney and is taken to make a winning start for Mick Appleby here. Fellow hat-trick seeker Urban Road heads the list of dangers, although a solid case can also be made for in-form trio Show Biz Kid, Annexation and Ellexis. C&D scorer Blue Yonder completes the shortlist in this very competitive handicap.
It’s hard to rule out many of these in this competitive race but the vote goes to ROSENPUR, who has form figures of 22221412 since October and that latest second was a near miss off this mark here last Monday. Maharajas Express did well to defy a wide draw over C&D last time and he’s feared most ahead of last year’s winner Gustav Graves and recent Southwell scorer Nelson Gay. Others on the shortlist are Ecclesiastical and the in-form 4yo Miggy Magic.
Political Power looked stretched when returned to 1m at Kempton last time and he sets the standard on his close second over 7f at Newcastle last month, but MIAMI MATRIX was just behind him in that race and that was an eyecatching debut from Hugo Palmer’s colt. He should know more this time and may well be able to turn the tables with his old rival. Recent C&D runner-up Kamekist also enters the reckoning, while the two debutants need checking in the market.
This looks but it might be worth siding with MARVELLOUS LADY, who had an excuse when upped to 1m6f last week and that was after a brave win in a classified event over C&D. She’s a big player if she can recapture that form and is still unexposed on AW. Marinakis is the main danger, although Stand Free returned to form with a front-running third at Newcastle last month and has claims if she can back that up. Another who could get involved is Rivas Rob Roy.
Philip Kirby’s BUSBY is a multiple C&D winner who has been in good form of late and looks the way to go. Fellow C&D winner Sun Festival could emerge as the main danger with recent course victor Quick Away and Tony Carroll’s recent recruit Cammy also in the mix.
Sarafina Mshairi was a close third on her handicap debut here last month and is respected on this drop back in trip. Auntie Jo has claims if she can build on her placed effort at Newcastle in December, while She Went Whoosh also enters the reckoning. However, preference is for the unexposed PASTORAL WAY (nap) who improved with each of his three qualifying runs and is bred to be much better than this opening mark.
Backer Bilk made his breakthrough with a comfortable win at Lingfield and he’s a big player again on this drop back in trip. Herkeios was a creditable third on Polytrack last time and is respected on his stable debut, while there are plenty of handicap newcomers to keep an eye on including Boundless Poet and Unfortunate Heir. However, the vote goes to MANTON ROAD, who has won twice here this year and found more progress with his near miss at Newcastle ten days ago.
Ray Gun holds obvious claims under a 6lb penalty for his ready Kempton victory but GEMMARI really caught the eye when a fast-finishing runner-up on his own handicap debut there last time out so edges the vote. Recent Newcastle scorer Return With Gold can also have a say in an intriguing handicap.
17:00 – Northern Cracksman
17:30 – Rosenpur
18:00 – Miami Matrix
18:30 – Marvellous Lad
19:00 – Busby
19:30 – Pastoral Way (NAP)
20:00 – Manton Road
20:30 – Gemmari
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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