17:00 Leicester

Tuesday 17 October 2017

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

Stewards Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 2m 8.21s

(8)

Zamperini⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: K Shoemark| T: M Murphy| OR: 75| D

9/2

His last two wins were over this trip and with some cut in the ground, the most recent being last season from 9lb higher. Been knocking on the door again lately and now dropped in grade, he looks to have every chance.

Form: 677422

(11)

Parish Boy^t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Josephine Gordon| T: D Loughnane| OR: 74

25/1

Has not won since a Listed success in Ireland in 2014. Acts well with some ease underfoot and if able to reproduce his Newbury effort from August when 4lb higher in a better race, he would have claims, though off the boil since.

Form: 273966

(4)

Katebird¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 76| D

20/1

Not the most consistent performer, but she can win a race when things drop right and has twice scored over this trip on good ground this year. Handles cut and despite a flop last time, she has the ability to have a big say in the outcome.

Form: 414520

(9)

Sonnetist¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 75

14/1

Showed some promise in maidens at both Lingfield (1m3½f, good to firm) and Sandown (1m2f, good) earlier in the season and not disgraced on handicap debut/first start since being gelded at Kempton last time. Not ruled out.

Form: 44465

(1)

Aiguille Rouge¹⁹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: H Crouch⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 75

33/1

Bought out of France for €48,000 in the summer after making the frame in a couple of soft ground races over 7½f/1m3f. Nice enough pedigree and market check advised to gauge confidence from this mark on her handicap introduction.

Form: 5234

(7)

Ghinia²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Rob Hornby| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 71| C

14/1

It is now over two years and 17 starts since she recorded the latest of her three wins (all over 1m, inc on good to soft). Remains competitive and now 1lb lower than when ½L runner-up at Newmarket in August, she has claims.

Form: 332925

(5)

Hajaam¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S De Sousa| T: C Fellowes| OR: 74| D

2/1

Has been able to improve since being gelded in the spring. Won at Haydock (1m2½f, heavy) last month and followed up by 6L four days later at Kempton (1m4f, AW) having escaped a penalty. Up 12lb for that, but should have a say.

Form: 685411

(3)

Essenaitch⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Katherine Begley⁽⁷⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 70| D

8/1

Back in good form of late, winning at Windsor and Nottingham (both 1m2f, good to soft) and going close over further at the Berkshire track in-between. Escapes a penalty for latest success (front pair 2L clear) and has strong claims again.

Form: 770131

(2)

What Wonders Weave³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Rowan Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Shanahan| OR: 73

5/1

Won a Hamilton maiden (1m½f, good to firm) in May and took a seller (1m1f, soft) at that venue last month. Beaten just ½L in a 1m1f Musselburgh handicap (soft) last time, she has been nudged up 2lb, but going the right way and has claims.

Form: 538513

(13)

Scoones²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 71| D

7/1

Has a steadily improving profile and came good at Lingfield (1m2f, AW) last time from 6lb lower, when tried at this trip for the first time. Has a fair bit in hand there, though now has to continue his momentum back on slower conditions.

Form: 9-7541

(12)

Booborowie³⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: George Wood⁽³⁾| T: A Stronge| OR: 67

33/1

His first three maiden runs last year suggested that he would be winning handicaps such as this, but he lost form and has now not been seen for over a year. Since gelded and changed stables and looks one to watch this time.

Form: 34375-

(6)

Bartholomew J⁶⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Simon Pearce⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L Pearce| OR: 68| D

25/1

Scored over this trip at Yarmouth (good to firm) earlier in the season and stays 1m4f. May just have a couple of pounds too many to shoulder at present, however, and also looks to be better on a sound/fast surface.

Form: 512626

Non-Runners

(10)

Eolian³⁰

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: A M Balding J: Joshua Bryan

Forecasts

Hajaam (2/1), Zamperini (9/2), What Wonders Weave (5/1), Scoones (7/1), Essenaitch (8/1), Eolian (10/1), Sonnetist (14/1), Ghinia (14/1), Katebird (20/1), Bartholomew J (25/1), Parish Boy (25/1), Aiguille Rouge (33/1), Booborowie (33/1)

A few in here have claims, including Zamperini under top weight, Katebird if on a going day and Sonnetist, now that he has had a handicap sighter. Ghinia is thoroughly exposed, but that may not stop her winning from today's mark, while Hajaam was impressive last time, but is up 12lb and on very different conditions today. Preference, therefore, is for ESSENAITCH, who is in form and escapes a penalty for winning a similar contest at Nottingham last time. Scoones and What Wonders Weave are others who can't be ruled out.