17:30 Leicester

Tuesday 17 October 2017

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

Stewards Handicap (Div 2)

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 2m 7.07s

(5)

Squiggley³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Dane O'Neill| T: H Candy| OR: 74| D

4/1

Won an Epsom maiden (1m2f, good) last year and has gone close to a repeat on three occasions in handicaps this term, including back there last time. This will be tougher after a 1lb rise and now on slower ground.

Form: 0-26273

(11)

Flight Of Fantasy⁷⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: G Mosse| T: H J L Dunlop| OR: 77| C

6/1

Won a maiden here over 1m4f (good to soft) in the spring and when close in a Newbury handicap (1m5½f, good) in July from today's mark. Not quite at that level since at up to 1m6f in better company, but interesting dropped in grade/trip.

Form: 316244

(8)

Villette¹⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Rob Hornby| T: D K Ivory| OR: 75

50/1

Won by 6L on debut at Kempton (1m4f, AW) in March, but unable to handle the handicappers demands in two handicaps since, being beaten 11L on both occasions. Makes her turf debut today and needs improvement to win again.

Form: 167

(4)

Miningrocks¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: G C O'Neill⁽⁷⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 71| CD

5/1

Has enjoyed a cracking season at this sort of level, reeling off a hat-trick over this trip at Nottingham (twice) and Redcar in the spring and coming good again in a Redcar seller last time. Goes well on good to soft and has claims from this mark.

Form: 374571

(1)

Blushing Red²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: P J McDonald| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 75| D

8/1

Landed a 1m4½f Newcastle (AW) maiden in March and added a Chepstow handicap (1m2f, good to soft) in August from a mark of 73. Held both starts since then from just 1lb higher than today, so has a bit to prove.

Form: 457108

(9)

Entangling⁶⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S De Sousa| T: C F Wall| OR: 75| D

4/1

Has improved steadily during the year and got off the mark in a Yarmouth handicap (1m2f, good to soft) when last seen in August. Up 3lb for that, but no obvious reason why she can't bridge that gap and she looks to be short-list material again.

Form: 63921

(7)

Bonnie Arlene¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 74| D

16/1

This will be her 15th start of the year, but she has been a very consistent performer, winning three of them from 1m1f-1m4f on ground from good to firm to good to soft. Drop in grade and 1lb will help, though might find a couple too good.

Form: 131660

(6)

Dora's Field⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: K Shoemark| T: W S Kittow| OR: 69

50/1

Maiden after 12 starts, though has twice gone very close, one of those being on her reappearance at Chepstow (1m2f, good to soft) in May. However well beaten on both starts since (over this C&D) and has a little to prove now.

Form: 605-269

(10)

Rayaa^t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Josephine Gordon| T: M Appleby| OR: 69

6/1

Now well over two years and 13 starts since her debut success at Wetherby (7f, good) and despite being gradually eased in the ratings she has been unable to summon up a repeat. Went close over C&D (soft) in July from 4lb lower. Each-way claims.

Form: 667242

(2)

Swift Cedar¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Matt Cosham⁽³⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 67| C| D

20/1

Has twice won here in selling/claiming company, though turf success has eluded him for well over two years now. Stays 1m4f, but even though he is dropping in the handicap, he still makes little appeal on recent evidence.

Form: 1360-67

(12)

Austerity¹⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: B A Curtis| T: Sally Haynes| OR: 65

33/1

Hinted at ability in his first two outings in maiden company, though well beaten at Southwell when last seen in May. Makes his handicap debut from a stiff enough mark now and looks one to watch this time.

Form: 68-6

(3)

Tyrsal^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Darragh Keenan⁽⁷⁾| T: C Lines| OR: 64| CD

12/1

Goes well here with wins over C&D and more recently over 1m4f (good) in July. Has since gone well from this mark at Yarmouth and not ruled out if at his best, though consistency not set in stone.

Form: 129286

Result Amended

Entangling - Original Position 1st. Amended Position 2nd.

Non-Runners

(13)

Polar Forest⁶

Weight: 9-2| Age: 7

T: R C Guest J: Jack Osborn

Forecasts

Entangling (4/1), Squiggley (4/1), Miningrocks (5/1), Rayaa (6/1), Flight Of Fantasy (6/1), Blushing Red (8/1), Tyrsal (12/1), Bonnie Arlene (16/1), Polar Forest (16/1), Swift Cedar (20/1), Austerity (33/1), Villette (50/1), Dora's Field (50/1)

Miningrocks has enjoyed a fruitful campaign and although it was a seller that he won last time out, he is proven from this sort of marks in handicaps this season and should again go close. However, the suggestion is FLIGHT OF FANTASY, who drops in grade for this as well as in trip and she can take advantage. Entangling, Blushing Red and Polar Forest all look capable of having a say in the battle for the minors.