14:30 Nottingham

Friday 18 August 2017

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3516:1016:4017:10

Burton Handicap

Off time: 14:32 | Winning time: 1m 1.3s

(6)

Corridor Kid^v⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: F Norton| T: D Shaw| OR: 65

16/1

Still a maiden and running out of excuses. Already has a bit to find with Kings Academy and isn't too difficult to overlook on this occasion.

Form: 0-63585

(7)

Malcolm The Pug²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: K T O'Neill| T: R Hannon| OR: 67

6/1

Eight starts in - six on turf - and has yet to really convince he is a natural sprinter. No surprise to see him upped in trip after this if things go awry once more here.

Form: 552846

(2)

Hamish Mcgonagain^p⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 63| BF| D

13/8

Won a brace on the AW at the turn of the year but seemed to lose his way a little afterwards. First start for his new yard was very encouraging and its entirely possible he has been revitalised by the switch. One to seriously consider if the market speaks in his favour.

Form: 304543

(8)

Dapper Man^b⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Hart| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 63| D

10/1

Won well at Wetherby in June but has been struggling to back it up since. Still 5lb higher in the ratings, and form has taken a bit if a nosedive of late. Capable if on song but is hard to get right and may be best watched.

Form: 132640

(9)

Ambitious Icarus^p,h³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: D C Costello| T: R C Guest| OR: 61| CD

8/1

Making his 109th start and chasing his tenth win. Likes this course (3 wins already registered at Colwick Park) and should be suited by the conditions. Holding his form well just now and entitled to respect. Recent experiments with headgear may have a limited time before the effect wears off, though. The market can guide here. Yard won this in 2015.

Form: 202133

(10)

The Big Short⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 62| D

8/1

Mixed form in four outings this season and hard to predict his frame of mind. Won from a 4lb lower mark on his penultimate start but reverted to type last time out and his lack of consistency is a cause for concern.

Form: 53-5815

(3)

Boogie Babe¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 52

6/1

Modest efforts in maidens before posting an improved display on handicap debut latest. Still unexposed and represents a powerful yard. One to bear in mind if the market vibes are positive.

Form: 6662

(4)

Bilash¹¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 8-6| J: Jack Duern⁽³⁾| T: Sarah Hollinshead| OR: 47| CD

50/1

Scrapes into the handicap but won this from the same mark last year. However, he's been woefully out of form since then. Recent evidence hardly inspiring and it will take a big effort from him to land back-to-back wins on these terms.

Form: 140-880

(5)

Captain Scooby^b³

Age: 11| Weight: 8-5| J: J Quinn| T: R C Guest| OR: 45| CD

11/1

Winner of this race in 2015 from an 8lb higher mark. This is still his grade and should run his race. But is 2lb wrong at the weights and others make more appeal this time.

Form: 595639

Non-Runners

(11)

Kings Academy⁵

Weight: 9-12| Age: 3

T: P & O Cole J: Non Runner

(1)

Archimedes¹⁴

Weight: 9-11| Age: 4

T: D C Griffiths J: D Allan

Forecasts

Hamish Mcgonagain (13/8), Kings Academy (4/1), Boogie Babe (6/1), Malcolm The Pug (6/1), The Big Short (8/1), Ambitious Icarus (8/1), Dapper Man (10/1), Archimedes (10/1), Captain Scooby (11/1), Corridor Kid (16/1), Bilash (50/1)

The betting can be a useful guide in races of this nature as most of these are capable of holding their own at this level and it's simply a cse of catching them on the right day. Previous winners: Bilash and Captain Scooby are prime examples of this and both are likely to be popular if nostalgia is factored in. However, HAMISH MCGONAGAIN seems to have been revaitalised by his recent switch in yards and will be a potent threat if he can step things up a notch. Kings Academy has a similar profile and is also respected, while Ambitious Icarus is an admirable campaigner that can be relied upon to give his all once more.