16:55 Epsom Downs

Monday 28 August 2017

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2016:5517:25

Stanley Wootton Handicap

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 2m 6.46s

(3)

Innocent Touch³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Adam J McNamara⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 90| CD

5/1

Won this race last year and is rated 2lb lower than when going down narrowly here in June. Has run a couple of promising races at York since and goes on the shortlist for this.

Form: 376245

(7)

Michele Strogoff^p1²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Josephine Gordon| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 87

33/1

Just one turf win so far, coming at Chester (7½f, good to soft) in June. Well held in both starts since, tries cheekpieces now but others holding strong claims.

Form: 288197

(1)

Grapevine²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: C Hills| OR: 85| CD

16/1

C&D winner last year, has run some decent races this year without getting his head in front, now getting some relief from the handicapper now and isn't to be overlooked.

Form: 2-28045

(6)

High End¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Edward Greatrex⁽³⁾| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 89

11/8

Dubawi gelding has won both starts to date on the AW, justifying favouritism both times. Promising individual and much respected switched to turf.

Form: 11

(4)

Count Calabash²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 87| D

3/1

Three-times a winner last year for previous yard, unable to repeat since joining this handler. Needs to bounce back but does have a very positive jockey booking.

Form: 11-5635

(2)

East Indies¹³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: H Crouch⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 79| D

50/1

Just four runs on the Flat, winning a maiden over 1m at Kempton in September 2015. Mixed efforts over hurdles since and arrives here off a short lay off. Watch betting.

Form: 410/6-

(8)

Lorelina⁷⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 78| BF| C

8/1

Looks to still be paying for back-to-back wins last year, since which the handicapper has had her measure, will be suited by this ground and more so with any rain that falls.

Form: 432-332

(5)

Sound Bar^b³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: P J Dobbs| T: R M Beckett| OR: 79

10/1

Winner of a Newbury maiden on final start of 2016 but mostly been struggling in four handicaps so far this term and hard to fancy despite trainer's recent good form.

Form: 21-9264

Forecasts

High End (11/8), Count Calabash (3/1), Innocent Touch (5/1), Lorelina (8/1), Sound Bar (10/1), Grapevine (16/1), Michele Strogoff (33/1), East Indies (50/1)

Innocent Touch won this a year ago and is off the same mark now, he could play a hand back at a track he clearly likes. Count Calabash hasn't shown a lot since joining this yard, but the booking of Moore catches the eye, while Grapevine is also respected. The one they all have to fear is HIGH END, a son of Dubawi with a perfect record of two from two on the AW so far. There's every reason to feel he'll handle this surface and the longer trip and that will surely make him hard to beat.