15:00 Leicester

Tuesday 17 October 2017

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:30

Wreake Handicap

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 1m 22.63s

(5)

Custom Cut^v1¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 107| D

16/1

Triple Group 2 winner who won a Group 3 this season, though has been found wanting at the higher level on his last two runs. Back handicapping here for the first time in nearly five years and he's a major player in first-time visor dropped in trip.

Form: 782375

(6)

Sir Dancealot³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 109| D

2/1

Best off at the weights here given his age allowance and a Listed winner himself last year. Beaten just 3L in a Doncaster Group 2 last time (7f, good to soft), he went very close when last handicapping in July (now 3lb higher) and he has claims.

Form: 602056

(10)

Emmaus³⁶²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 99| CD

10/1

Scored here over C&D (good to soft) in debut in a maiden 13 months ago and improved on that when fourth in a French Listed contest next time (1m, good). Almost a year since he ran there, but can clearly go well fresh and a market check suggested.

Form: 14-

(9)

Rene Mathis¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 97| D

16/1

Beat Custom Cut off level weights in a conditions event at Thirsk in April (7f, good to firm). Only seen once since, when last of 17 at Haydock (6f, heavy) last month. Has claims if fully firing, which may be possible on this less testing ground.

Form: 295010

(8)

War Glory³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 96| D

10/1

Yet to win on turf or this season, though he has put in some very creditable efforts with four seconds since the spring. Conditions and trip suit, though handicapper is asking plenty of him and he could go very well but still find a few too good.

Form: 453224

(7)

Via Via²²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J Tate| OR: 96| D

7/1

Has raced only five times since making a winning debut in 2014. Bettered that with success on his final start last year at Newmarket (7f) and first time up this year at Newcastle. Unexposed, improving and not ruled out if handling the ground.

Form: 150/31-1

(2)

Captain Colby^b³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: S De Sousa| T: E Walker| OR: 96

8/1

All three of his wins have been on a sound/fast surface, the most recent of them in a Doncaster handicap (5½f) 13 months ago. Just 1lb higher today so has best chance for a while, though has a bit to prove on recent form and over this new trip.

Form: 200077

(3)

Georgian Bay^v³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: B A Curtis| T: K R Burke| OR: 96| D

25/1

Sole turf success came at Ascot (7f, soft) in a lady amateurs' contest in July. Won't mind the forecast conditions then, but from 11lb higher and in this grade, this looks to be plenty tough enough.

Form: 337160

(11)

London^h¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Josephine Gordon| T: P S McEntee| OR: 96| D

14/1

Has scored twice over this trip this year, the latter being last time out at Epsom (heavy) by over 3L. Has gone up 16lb for that and takes on much better opposition here. It will be some effort if he can make it 3-3 on turf since joining this yard.

Form: 621921

(4)

Hyde Park^t¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: K Shoemark| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 97| D

7/2

Both wins have been over this trip, the only one in a handicap coming at Yarmouth (good to firm) in August. 3lb higher here and in better company, he has shown that he can compete in this grade and he is no forlorn hope here.

Form: 300157

Non-Runners

(1)

Von Blucher¹

Weight: 8-11| Age: 4

T: R Menzies J: P J McDonald

Forecasts

Sir Dancealot (2/1), Hyde Park (7/2), Via Via (7/1), Captain Colby (8/1), Emmaus (10/1), War Glory (10/1), Von Blucher (12/1), London (14/1), Rene Mathis (16/1), Custom Cut (16/1), Georgian Bay (25/1)

A competitive contest and one in which the vote goes to CUSTOM CUT, who may be capable of outclassing his rivals on his first handicap run for five years. Sir Dancealot has an obvious chance at the weights and he should be thereabouts, while Rene Mathis could perhaps use the bottomless Haydock ground as an excuse last time and may do much better on these less testing conditions. Elsewhere, Via Via is a very interesting unexposed entrant, Von Blucher has to enter calculations, while Emmaus can go very well when fresh and Hyde Park is not dismissed from the foot of the card.