Betway Middle Distance Handicap

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 2m 8.07s

(2)

Forceful Appeal²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Hollie Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: S Dow| OR: 93

5/1

Prolific winner on the AW with eight of those wins coming around this course. Faced stiff tasks on his last two starts and will appreciate the slight ease in grade.

Form: 375261

(6)

Qaffaal²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Nathan Evans⁽³⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 87

11/8

Useful handicapper who won five times last year and can be forgiven his last run in a race that was run at a false gallop at Newcastle over 7f. Now steps up in trip to 1m2f and this looks tougher than his usual opposition.

Form: 601112

(1)

Van Huysen¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: S M Levey| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 86

9/2

Good record at Lingfield and over this trip and he looks progressive off a mark of 86. Not suited by the way the race developed over C&D last time out (Coillte Cailin behind) and would appreciate a more strongly run race.

Form: 243370

(5)

Final²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 83

5/2

Consistent sort who won twice on the turf last year at Beverley responding to pressure well on each occasion. Back from a break last time out when taking the runner-up slot at Wolverhampton over an extended 1m1f. Had to wait to gain a run last time and finished well but looks an improving sort who may well be able to handle this rise in grade.

Form: 192U25

(4)

Black Night⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Philip Prince⁽³⁾| T: James Moon| OR: 80

20/1

Winner in Jersey three times in 2016 in handicap company but has struggled since running outside of that sphere and faces a tough task here and likely to start at big odds.

Form: 114570

Non-Runners

(7)

Vettori Rules¹²

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: Miss Gay Kelleway J: C Lee

(3)

Coillte Cailin¹⁵

Weight: 9-7| Age: 7

T: D O'Meara J: M Harley

Forecasts

Qaffaal (11/8), Coillte Cailin (2/1), Final (5/2), Van Huysen (9/2), Forceful Appeal (5/1), Vettori Rules (12/1), Black Night (20/1)

This looks a good contest and it may well be that VAN HUYSEN who has been in good form around here this winter can once again pick up the winning thread especially if he gets a decent pace to run at. Final is of obvious interest if he can repeat his good reappearance run at Wolverhampton last time out with Coillte Cailin hard to leave out of the mix after her good recent showings. Vettori Rules and the up in trip Qaffaal add to the mix in what is an interesting contest. 1. Van Huysen 2. Final 3. Coillte Cailin