Amix Handicap

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 2m 30.59s

(6)

Sofia's Rock¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 94| D

7/2

Won a Redcar maiden (1m1f, soft) last year. Beaten just 1L on his return/handicap intro at Bath (1m3½f, firm) last month and then landed a weaker event at Leicester (1m4f, good to firm) by an impressive 10L. Raised 13lb for that and beaten 19L when tried in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial last time, but dropped 4lb and in class here, he will be tough to beat.

Form: 231-417

(2)

Janszoon¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Martin Lane| T: C Appleby| OR: 90| D

5/2

Gelded prior to his first start when blinkers were fitted at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) and he finished a short head second at 25-1. Improved on that when readily winning a Lingfield maiden (1m3½f, good to soft) last time. Now makes his handicap debut from a mark that looks fair and he must be feared if taking him on.

Form: 21

(5)

Face The Facts³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Robert Tart| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 86

2/1

Has improved for each outing so far and despite being turned over when favourite at Leicester (1m4f, good to soft) on his reappearance, he came on for that when taking a Newbury maiden last time (1m3f, good to firm). Entered in the Queen's Vase (1m6f) at Royal Ascot so a strong pace here is likely to suit and he looks to be in on a decent mark.

Form: 2-21

(1)

Stone The Crows²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: K Shoemark⁽³⁾| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 85| D

8/1

Another handicap debutante who took three starts to get off the mark when he did so under this pilot on his reappearance at Salisbury (1m4f, firm) last month. The bare form of that does not look as strong as one or two here and his initial handicap mark is no 'gimme', but that is not to say that he can take a bigger leap forward.

Form: 42-1

(4)

Al Zaman^p1,t¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 83| D

5/1

Confirmed the promise of his Nottingham debut last October when stepped up to this trip to win a Wolverhampton maiden last month. Couldn't go with them on his handicap debut at Chester earlier in the month (1m4½f, good) and now lines up in a slightly stronger contest with cheekpieces on. Will need improvement to win.

Form: 2-15

(3)

Wefait²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: K T O'Neill| T: R Hannon| OR: 78

25/1

Looked to be gradually improving when taking a Kempton maiden (1m2f, AW) on his first start of this season, though slightly below that when a 10L runner-up to Sofia's Rock on his handicap debut at Leicester last month (1m4f, good to firm). Now 7lb better off with that opponent so may finish closer, but not easy to see him winning.

Form: 35-212

Forecasts

Face The Facts (2/1), Janszoon (5/2), Sofia's Rock (7/2), Al Zaman (5/1), Stone The Crows (8/1), Wefait (25/1)

Face The Facts, Janszoon and SOFIA'S ROCK all hold Queen's Vase entries for Royal Ascot and so a decent test would suit them here and with Mark Johnston's runners being so good at dictating a strong gallop and seeing out their trip, we will suggest the horse at the top of the list. The other pair both make their handicap debuts here and their chances are much respected, with Janszoon slightly less exposed. Stone The Crows looks next best.