14:50 Bath

Wednesday 23 August 2017

All13:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:40

Graham Plumbers Merchant Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 2m 12.62s

(8)

Sakhalin Star^p,e/s⁶^{(ex 6)}

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Callum Shepherd⁽³⁾| T: R C Guest| OR: 56| D

4/1

In good form and still potentially well handicapped despite a 6lb penalty for last week's win in a seller at Beverley. More to do on these terms but the drop in trip is not an issue and no surprise if he goes close once more.

Form: 631651

(5)

Callaghan^h,t⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S Donohoe| T: T R Gretton| OR: 55

28/1

Dropped a long way in the ratings but is 0-from-15 so far and hard to see him clambering out of the doldrums on recent form.

Form: 6/0-5700

(4)

Eben Dubai⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Charles Bishop| T: Mrs Tracey Barfoot-Saunt| OR: 51

5/2

Goes well at this course and dangerous if allowed to set his own tempo. A likely contender in this company and well worth a check in the betting.

Form: 385225

(3)

Eugenic¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: S De Sousa| T: B R Millman| OR: 51| BF| CD

7/4

Yard going well, good jockey booking and very capable of upholding recent form with Eden Dubai despite being 3lb worse off from the last time they met. Won this last year and very high on the shortlist once more.

Form: 3-95423

(10)

Altaira^b1¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: William Carson| T: A W Carroll| OR: 49

11/1

On a long losing run and first-time blinkers need to drag improvement out of this frustrating gelding. Capable of making the frame on the pick of his form but risks attached even though he is well handicapped just now.

Form: 650260

(2)

Jazri^p⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Kerrie Raybould⁽⁷⁾| T: J M Bradley| OR: 47| D

18/1

On a long losing run and can be unpredictable. Claims on the pick of his AW form but recent return to turf over C&D left a bit to be desired.

Form: 724378

(7)

Koubba^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Fran Berry| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 46

14/1

Not much to glean from three starts kin maidens. Possible she may improve now she goes into a handicap but hard to fancy all the same.

Form: 070

(12)

Opera Buffa^p,t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Patrick Pilley⁽⁵⁾| T: S Flook| OR: 46

40/1

Poor form under both codes and seems to have lost her way just now. Others hold much more convincing claims.

Form: 4370-0U

(1)

Fire Empress^h³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: S Hitchcott| T: J W Unett| OR: 45

40/1

Still a maiden and back on turf for the first time in a while, but makes limited appeal fro out of the weights after a strong of poor efforts on the AW. Hard to see her being good enough even at this lowly level.

Form: 760-066

(6)

Steady Major¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: W M Brisbourne| OR: 45| D

50/1

Better on the AW track but has even dropped off the radar in that sphere. Turf form poor at best and not difficult to look elsewhere in the search for a winner.

Form: 974600

(9)

Selena Rose^h¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: David Egan⁽⁵⁾| T: R Harris| OR: 45

66/1

Never troubled the judge in four previous starts on turf and a similar scenario can be expected once more from so far out of the weights.

Form: 0/770-76

Non-Runners

(11)

Midnight Mood¹⁴

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: D J S Ffrench Davis J: L P Keniry

Forecasts

Eugenic (7/4), Eben Dubai (5/2), Sakhalin Star (4/1), Midnight Mood (7/1), Altaira (11/1), Koubba (14/1), Jazri (18/1), Callaghan (28/1), Fire Empress (40/1), Opera Buffa (40/1), Steady Major (50/1), Selena Rose (66/1)

This may rest between last year's winner EUGENIC and Eben Dubai , who are closely matched on recent form but the first named just held the edge last time they met and is taken to confirm the form despite there being little between them at the weights. Sakhalin Star has a penalty to carry and faces a tough test under top weight but should still give a good account of himself.