15:45 Beverley

Tuesday 18 July 2017

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:1517:45

132nd Year Of The Watt Memorial Handicap

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 3m 28.62s

(5)

Highland Castle^t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Neil Farley| T: L Egerton| OR: 87

100/1

Five time career winner, but not since May 2015 (for David Elsworth). Has shown nothing in three starts for this stable during 2017 (two hurdles, and a 2m Tapeta handicap). Easing in the weights and back on turf, but hard to enthuse over.

Form: 0/8633-9

(6)

Angel Gabrial¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 85| D

7/2

Classy performer in his younger days, but unable to get his head in front since winning the 2014 Northumberland Plate at Newcastle. Now down to his lowest mark since 2013, but few signs he's able to capitalise at present.

Form: 0-48605

(2)

Grumeti^p¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-11| J: K Shoemark| T: A King| OR: 82| D

4/1

Talented hurdler who also won the Cesarewitch back in 2015. Kicked off this year by winning on Tapeta at Wolverhampton in March and whilst below that level since hasn't been totally disgraced in arguably better races. Interesting to see how he handles this track and considered.

Form: 094-164

(4)

Corpus Chorister¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: K Stott| T: D Menuisier| OR: 82

5/2

Won back-to-back races towards the end of 2016 (at up to 1m4f), but hasn't really suggested she totally sees out 2m this year, albeit narrowly beaten by Zenafire at Chester earlier this month. Looks slightly vulnerable from a joint career high mark with this uphill finish in mind.

Form: 652-422

(7)

La Fritillaire²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: A Mullen| T: J G Given| OR: 66| D

7/1

Has stamina and battling quality in spades as she's demonstrated in winning four races from 15 career starts as she climbs through the ranks. Beaten 2¼L from this mark by Akavit over 2m2f at Pontefract last month (good to firm), and whilst fractionally high in the weights is certain to run her usual honest race.

Form: 17-6132

(3)

Waterclock^v⁶⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: P J McDonald| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 65| CD

20/1

Winning hurdler who was also a game neck winner of this contest in 2015 (beat Aldreth). Not had that many goes on the Flat since, but is now rated 10lb lower than in 2015. Finished fourth to stablemate Tuscan Gold on his most recent Flat outing (2m5f at Pontefract in April), but has taken a 3m Hexham handicap hurdle from a mark of 110 since, so makes obvious appeal.

Form: 72099-4

(1)

The Blues Master¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 72

10/3

Won once in 13 career starts; a 1m4f AW maiden at Kempton in January. Yet to race beyond 1m6f, but appears short of pace so worth a try over this trip and receives weight all round from his six rivals as the sole three-year-old in this contest.

Form: 278337

Forecasts

Corpus Chorister (5/2), The Blues Master (10/3), Angel Gabrial (7/2), Grumeti (4/1), La Fritillaire (7/1), Waterclock (20/1), Highland Castle (100/1)

Some talented old timers in the line up with 2015 Cesarewitch winner Grumeti locking horns with 2014 Northumberland Plate winner Angel Gabrial. However, it has been a long time without success for the latter, so of that pair, the Alan King trained nine-year-old makes more appeal this afternoon. Both Corpus Chorister and The Blues Master need to conclusively prove their stamina, and with the game La Fritillaire a shade high in the handicap and Highland Castle making little appeal on his current form for this stable, 2015 winner WATERCLOCK gets the vote. This gelding was well backed when winning a 3m Hexham handicap hurdle in May and has been absent since, presumably with this contest in mind, and he holds every chance of winning this race again from a mark of just 65 (10lb lower than he won off in 2015).