Bet toteWin At betfred.com Handicap

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 2m 37.99s

(6)

Je Suis Charlie²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Louis Steward| T: M L W Bell| OR: 77

4/1

Beverley maiden winner in September 2016, but beaten on all seven starts in handicaps yet still earning little reprieve from the assessor. Raced over shorter trips most latterly, but has form over 1m4f and this sharp track will hold no fears.

Form: 923275

(5)

Fire Leopard^h¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 75| BF| D

7/2

Bombed out on her latest start at Ripon, but that race might have come too soon just five days on from her 6L success at the same North Yorkshire venue. Returns on the same mark (75) seeking to resume an upward career trajectory.

Form: 535317

(4)

Voski²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Jason Hart| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 75| D

12/1

Difficult to pinpoint exactly why his career has nose-dived since making all to score on debut at Lingfield in March (1m4f), but feasible that this track on quick ground might spark a revival if allowed to boss this small field from the front end.

Form: 13568

(2)

Breakwater Bay²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 69| D

10/1

Kept on well to break his duck over 1m4f at Pontefract in early July, but has found life tough from a revised mark since. Ran too badly to be true latest and needs to bounce back from that showing.

Form: 228148

(1)

Mambo Dancer⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 68| BF

11/8

Stablemate of Voski who has definitely improved since stepping into handicaps and upped in trip. His nose second to Thorntoun Care at Musselburgh in early August was backed up by a solid run at Yarmouth, and whilst this is tougher, he's unexposed.

Form: 00-522

(3)

Zihaam^p1⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 65

12/1

Picked up from Kevin Prendergast for 22,000 gns in July and has been gradually upped in trip by his new trainer. Up a further three furlongs for just his second start in handicap company, and that coincides with the fitting of cheek-pieces.

Form: 0396

Forecasts

Mambo Dancer (11/8), Fire Leopard (7/2), Je Suis Charlie (4/1), Breakwater Bay (10/1), Zihaam (12/1), Voski (12/1)

MAMBO DANCER and Fire Leopard are without doubt the most progressive pair in this small field stayers contest. The selection might well prove stronger on a more galloping track, and it should be noted that it was only a maiden handicap that he contested last time at Yarmouth, but he looks a typical Johnston improver in silks that we've already seen carried to success by a similar type of horse earlier in the season (Kensington Star for Keith Dalgleish).