16:30 Salisbury

Sunday 30 April 2017

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:30

Betfred 'City Bowl' Handicap

Off time: 16:31 | Winning time: 3m 6.06s

(8)

The Tartan Spartan¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: T P O'Shea| T: J P Shanahan| OR: 97

3/1

Was highly tried last year after winning a Thirsk maiden on debut over 1m4f, running in Listed and Group One company. Ran a sound race to be third on handicap bow at Musselburgh recently over this trip and goes up 3lb, should be competitive again.

Form: 1786-3

(5)

Glaring³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: J Fortune| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 93

16/1

Just the one win from 13 outings on the Flat, hasn't been covering himself in glory over hurdles of late and was badly out of form over this C&D in September on previous Flat run.

Form: 759865-

(2)

Sunblazer^t¹³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Joshua Bryan⁽⁷⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 88

20/1

Tends to save his best for the AW and owner of a fairly modest record on turf, with one win from 16 starts. First visit here and has plenty to prove on form.

Form: 340206-

(10)

Mark Hopkins³¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: S W Kelly| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 87

11/1

Lightly-raced sort, went close in a C&D handicap in October 2015 but way below that form in two runs last year and doesn't appeal off current rating based on those efforts.

Form: 212/06-7

(3)

Paris Protocol²³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: R Hannon| OR: 89

5/4

Hasn't won since landing a maiden over the mile at this track in September 2015 and was essentially disappointing in four outings last year despite running in some competitive contests. Respected trainer and jockey booking is striking but leap of faith needed on bare form.

Form: 1/5660-3

(11)

Great And Small²¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 88

8/1

Galileo filly was not disgraced in a Listed Ascot contest over this trip in final start last year and needs respecting in this field with potential for better on just sixth start.

Form: 8/9124-

(4)

Plymouth Sound^v1¹⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: J P Fahy| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 77

12/1

Won over 6f at this track on debut in 2014 and hasn't managed to repeat the trick in 16 subsequent starts. Returns from a break tackling this sort of stamina test for the first time and has plenty to prove.

Form: 43259-4

(1)

Cotton Club⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: Ryan Tate| T: B R Millman| OR: 74

7/1

Has been racing over further than this recently, and has looked an out-and-out stayer, so this step down in trip isn't sure to suit after a 4L beating into fourth over 2m last time out.

Form: 454-714

Non-Runners

(9)

Yorkidding¹

Weight: 9-13| Age: 5

T: C & M Johnston J: F Norton

(7)

Allumage⁵³

Weight: 9-2| Age: 5

T: S Kirk J: Tom Marquand

(6)

Medburn Cutler¹⁹¹

Weight: 8-8| Age: 7

T: P Henderson J: J F Egan

Forecasts

Paris Protocol (5/4), The Tartan Spartan (3/1), Yorkidding (5/1), Cotton Club (7/1), Great And Small (8/1), Medburn Cutler (8/1), Mark Hopkins (11/1), Plymouth Sound (12/1), Glaring (16/1), Allumage (16/1), Sunblazer (20/1)

Yorkidding usually runs well enough fresh to merit some consideration off top weight and his trainer was amongst the winners this weekend already. He may be better seen next time out however. Despite the booking of Ryan Moore, it is hard to get excited about Paris Protocol, though if money should arrive it must be heeded on this return to the track having been gelded since his last appearance. The Tartan Spartan showed up well at Musselburgh on handicap debut and should have more to offer but it might be worth siding with GREAT AND SMALL who was not disgraced in Listed company last time out and has the potential to offer more on just a sixth racecourse appearance.