Weatherbys General Stud Book Online Handicap

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 2m 18.66s

(1)

Ayrad^b³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 104| D

4/1

Dual Listed winner last term but has found things tough in three runs this year, including at Epsom in August in first-time blinkers (retained) over this sort of trip. Drops in the ratings again and has won on soft ground before, if bouncing back.

Form: 46-5594

(3)

Master Carpenter¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: George Wood⁽³⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 98| D

11/4

Inconsistent sort who was very impressive when winning on soft ground at York over this sort of trip earlier in the season but has struggled badly in four starts since, including dropped to 1m last month at Doncaster. Not ruled out in this field.

Form: 010007

(5)

Almoreb¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Jim Crowley| T: R Hannon| OR: 92

5/4

Well-placed to win three from seven starts, most recently when getting up in the last stride to dead-heat with Golden Goal over 1m at Chelmsford in August. Since run well off this mark at Sandown (1m, good) and major player if taking to this trip.

Form: 461213

(2)

Storm Rock²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Hollie Doyle⁽³⁾| T: H J L Dunlop| OR: 77| CD

9/2

Hasn't really fired this term and has run some rather flat races, very much so when last sighted over 1m2f at Haydock last month (soft) and hard to be confident in right now. Needs to bounce back if hoping to land back-to-back wins in this contest.

Form: 064849

Non-Runners

(4)

Twin Star³⁸

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: A M Balding J: Oisin Murphy

Forecasts

Almoreb (5/4), Master Carpenter (11/4), Ayrad (4/1), Storm Rock (9/2), Twin Star (7/1)

Last year's winner Storm Rock is 8lb wrong on these terms and hasn't set the world alight recently but he is likely to have had this in mind for a while and shouldn't be overlooked too hastily. Ayrad too has got to bounce back but is dropping down the ratings and will act on the likely surface. The form pick is Almoreb, assuming he handles the longer trip on offer but it might be worth chancing TWIN STAR in a trappy contest. He has yet to show his best since joining Andrew Balding but was just run of the places in a Group 3 at the Curragh in May on yielding ground and could be capable of a minor surprise now if recapturing his early season promise.