15:55 Nottingham

Thursday 15 June 2017

All13:4014:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0017:30

Doom Bar Summer Handicap

Off time: 15:57 | Winning time: 1m 14.72s

(12)

Arctic Angel^h²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: George Wood⁽⁵⁾| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 67

6/4

Only raced on synthetics so far, but twice a runner up from four career starts, including on handicap debut at Kempton last month when beaten a head by Deeds Not Words. Up 2lb but an obvious contender.

Form: 442-2

(3)

Gung Ho Jack³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Josephine Gordon| T: J R Best| OR: 65| D

8/1

Returned from a spell at St Moritz (snow) in February with a low key display at Yarmouth, but bettered that showing at Ascot latest when eighth to Robero and is working back to form as he drops in the weights.

Form: 2-65488

(14)

Archimedes^p,t³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: P Hanagan| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 65

12/1

Won from a 4lb lower mark at Southwell in January (5F), but also not beaten too far by Jacob's Pillow when third at Beverley on his penultimate start. More effective over 5F.

Form: 165938

(6)

Soaring Spirits^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: R Winston| T: D K Ivory| OR: 65| D

10/1

A seven time career winner who notched a hat-trick during June and July 2016 (6F to 7F at Brighton and Leicester). Back to his last winning mark for the first time since (65), so not entirely out of this if sharper with a few recent runs under his belt.

Form: 68-5074

(10)

Athollblair Boy²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: T Eaves| T: N Tinkler| OR: 63| D

14/1

Not won since August 2015, but was productive enough on Tapeta at Newcastle in October 2016 (twice placed over 7F). Down in trip, and falling in the weights; now 10lb lower than when a neck second to Secret Clause over C&D in May 2016.

Form: 23-4067

(1)

Lucky Lodge^v¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 63| D

12/1

Enjoys the Tapeta at Wolverhampton, and also a dual winner on turf at Newcastle back in the day. However, far from disgraced on turf over 7F at Doncaster in late April and worthy of consideration from the same mark.

Form: 98-3244

(4)

Fortinbrass³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Joe Doyle| T: J Balding| OR: 62| D

28/1

Southwell regular, and a four time winner on the Fibresand over this trip. However, was well beaten on his latest outing there (last of nine). Not raced on turf since July 2016, but was a 1L runner up to Goadby in this contest in 2016.

Form: 336619

(13)

Ambitious Icarus^e/s⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: Connor Beasley| T: R C Guest| OR: 61| CD

16/1

C&D winner who has been successful eight times during a 101 race career. Doing his best work late over 6F at Thirsk (soft) in late May, but never figured after a slow start at Catterick on Saturday, and the blinkers are swiftly discarded.

Form: 458530

(7)

Loveatfirstsight¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Liam Jones| T: M J Attwater| OR: 60

33/1

Six race maiden, but has dropped 7lb since being allocated a mark of 67 for her handicap debut at Lingfield in December 2016. Raced mainly over further and disappointing in the main, but worth another go at this trip.

Form: 43553-6

(11)

First Excel^b¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Kevin Lundie⁽⁷⁾| T: S R Bowring| OR: 57| D

8/1

Both career wins have come over 6F on the AW, but plenty to like about his Newcastle victory in January (form solid). Raced over varying trips since (5F to 1m), but a player now back over 6F from a lower turf mark than AW. Twice placed over C&D.

Form: 22-1874

(9)

Bogsnog³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 56| D

7/1

Remained in decent enough shape since winning at Wolverhampton in March (6F) despite a small hike in the weights. Dropped 1lb since finishing just under 4L fourth to Socialites Red over C&D last month (good).

Form: 971444

(8)

Bushwise^p⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: David Egan⁽⁵⁾| T: J M Bradley| OR: 52| D

33/1

Out of sorts this year (finished last in three of her last four starts), and hasn't won in over a year. Has ability on her day, but looks somewhat of an all or nothing performer.

Form: 430-989

(2)

Pyroclastic^t⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Shelley Birkett⁽³⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 45| D

50/1

His sole career success came over this trip at Wolverhampton for Jim Boyle in April 2015, but he was moved on for 7,500 gns in April 2016 and in truth hasn't shown much in seven starts for this yard, falling 15lb in the handicap to a mark of 45.

Form: 0680-00

(5)

Sixties Symphony¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-1| J: R Ffrench| T: J L Flint| OR: 45

100/1

Lightly raced (four starts, two for this trainer), but yet to beat a rival home in maiden company. Makes her handicap debut rated just 16, and has no chance on these terms.

Form: 08-07

Non-Runners

(15)

Specialv¹⁵

Weight: 10-1| Age: 4

T: B Ellison J: B A Curtis

Forecasts

Arctic Angel (6/4), Bogsnog (7/1), Gung Ho Jack (8/1), First Excel (8/1), Soaring Spirits (10/1), Lucky Lodge (12/1), Archimedes (12/1), Specialv (12/1), Athollblair Boy (14/1), Ambitious Icarus (16/1), Fortinbrass (28/1), Bushwise (33/1), Loveatfirstsight (33/1), Pyroclastic (50/1), Sixties Symphony (100/1)

The kind of race in which it pays to rely upon previous course form as an accurate guide. A number of horses have claims in that regard, and these include last years runner up Fortinbrass, who has scarcely seen turf since, whilst Athollblair Boy is incredibly well treated on a piece of course form from May 2016. The frustrating Ambitious Icarus has won over C&D previously, whilst Arctic Angel is yet to visit this track, but looks far more progressive than most. However, FIRST EXCEL gets the vote. He's been mucked about in terms of trip since winning over 6F at Newcastle in January (form solid) and has twice finished in the money over C&D in 2016, so looks the clear value play in an open looking contest.