15:20 Brighton

Wednesday 9 August 2017

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

Hobgoblin Brighton Mile Challenge Trophy Handicap

Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 1m 33.63s

(14)

Cricklewood Green²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Mitch Godwin⁽⁵⁾| T: S Kirk| OR: 79| CD

11/2

Ran on well close home to take this contest by ½L in 2016 (7lb lower mark) and followed up over C&D three weeks later. Ran some decent races since, and won on his latest outing at Ascot last month (7f good). Sure to be on the premises and rain wouldn't be a major concern.

Form: 890691

(7)

Exceeding Power²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: George Wood⁽³⁾| T: M R Bosley| OR: 78| D

7/1

A reliable individual who regularly runs well at Newbury despite not having won at that track. However, has tasted success in two of his last three starts so arrives in form, albeit climbing the weights, up 3lb for his latest Salisbury success (1m good to firm).

Form: 6-34141

(2)

Pendo³³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Kieren Fox| T: J R Best| OR: 77| D

11/1

Did well over the winter on synthetics, winning twice at Chelmsford (7f and 1m) and also a runner up at Kempton. Seems to have lost his way just a fraction of late and needs to bounce back from an elevated mark.

Form: 271750

(15)

Zaeem²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: S De Sousa| T: I Furtado| OR: 76| CD

15/2

Landed the odds when recording a hat-trick over C&D in June 2015, but has only won once since then and never since January 2016. Out of sorts in all three starts in 2017, but entitled to be stronger for recent comeback run at Doncaster.

Form: 674-786

(1)

Intensical^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Manuel Fernandes⁽⁷⁾| T: I Furtado| OR: 76| D

16/1

Stablemate of Zaeem who was successful from a similar mark over this trip at Doncaster in June (winning rider partners Zaeem today). Not disgraced when third at Chepstow latest and the booking of a 7lb claimer is noteworthy.

Form: 636103

(3)

Admirable Art²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: A Kirby| T: A W Carroll| OR: 75| CD

16/1

Won a couple of C&D class 6 handicaps from much lower marks in 2016, and that proved a springboard for further success and he was winning from a mark of 68 on his penultimate start at Chepstow in early June. Beaten but not disgraced off a 7lb higher mark since and closely matched with Intensical.

Form: 914514

(8)

Helfire²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: H Morrison| OR: 75| D

9/2

Her career record implies she's better on the AW than turf, but overall she's broadly likeable and consistent, and this is far weaker than her latest third of ten in a Class 3 handicap at Ascot behind Mittens. Goes well during the summer months and an obvious contender.

Form: 8-51213

(4)

Squire^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Adam Beschizza| T: M J Attwater| OR: 74| D

12/1

Had a break after a winter on the AW, but ran okay over this kind of trip at Epsom in early July (fourth of eight to Lord Reason). Capable from this mark and no real surprise if he plays a hand.

Form: 15-2474

(10)

Lord Clenaghcastle²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S W Kelly| T: G & J Moore| OR: 77| C

5/1

A three time winner in seven career starts, and what is furthermore appealing is his preference for switchback and undulating tracks (1,3,2,1 at Epsom and Brighton combined). 5lb higher for his latest 2L success at Epsom last month and unlikely to be troubled by the rain should it arrive.

Form: 130-621

(11)

Mister Musicmaster¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: K T O'Neill| T: R J Hodges| OR: 68| D

50/1

Notched a double at Bath earlier this year (both over 1m on quick ground), but has been out of sorts in three starts since (barely managing to beat a rival). Question marks against his name for the moment.

Form: 711777

(13)

Galinthias³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Harry Bentley| T: S Dow| OR: 68| CD

14/1

Lightly raced, but already a C&D winner in early June (just held on). Finished one place behind Squire when fifth of six at Epsom latest so feasible that the handicapper has him about right.

Form: 22-9615

(6)

Pour La Victoire^v1²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: George Downing| T: A W Carroll| OR: 67| CD

16/1

Stablemate of Admirable Art who is the mount of his regular rider and sports a first time visor. No stranger to this track with a number of victories here (including over C&D) and back here for the first time since last August and should relish the sea air from a falling mark.

Form: 30-8066

Non-Runners

(5)

Harlequin Striker¹⁴

Weight: 9-13| Age: 5

T: D K Ivory J: R Winston

(9)

Weloof⁵²

Weight: 9-6| Age: 3

T: E A L Dunlop J: Jim Crowley

(12)

Duke Of North¹³

Weight: 9-4| Age: 5

T: J R Boyle J: J Mitchell

(16)

Wasm¹³

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: R Fell & S Murray J: Ben Sanderson

Forecasts

Helfire (9/2), Lord Clenaghcastle (5/1), Cricklewood Green (11/2), Exceeding Power (7/1), Zaeem (15/2), Wasm (10/1), Pendo (11/1), Squire (12/1), Duke Of North (12/1), Galinthias (14/1), Harlequin Striker (14/1), Intensical (16/1), Pour La Victoire (16/1), Admirable Art (16/1), Weloof (16/1), Mister Musicmaster (50/1)

A competitive handicap in which a number of the runners make some type of appeal, and a race in which connections will be playing weather watch with rain likely to improve the chances of some of the more interesting contenders, with Wasm the most obvious case in point. He was a shrewd purchase by Roger Fell and is already off the mark for his new trainer with better to come in the weeks and months ahead. Lord Clenaghcastle looks certain to run his race around these sweeping downs (solid previous record here and at Epsom) whilst recent Ascot winner and top-weight Cricklewood Green has been here and got the t-shirt at this track during the month of August (in 2016). However, it is the likeable filly HELFIRE that rates as the selection. She tends to thrive during the summer months and ran well from her current mark behind Mittens at Ascot last month and is much respected with her trainer bang in-form.