14:15 Nottingham

Wednesday 8 November 2017

All12:3513:0513:4014:1514:5015:2015:55

Lady Cecil Handicap

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 1m 1.64s

(7)

Spiritual Lady²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: P J McBride| OR: 100

13/2

Won last year's Listed Bosra Sham Stakes at Newmarket (6f, good) and is also proven on soft ground. Has not come close to that form in two recent runs after an 11-month absence, so has a bit to prove now dropped in trip.

Form: 1511-78

(4)

Perfect Pasture^v¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: D Allan| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 100| CD

5/2

Goes on any ground and has won a couple this season, including in Listed company at Windsor (6f, good) in May. Struggled in Group company after that, but a drop in the weights induced a win at Doncaster (6f) last time. Not ruled out dropped in trip.

Form: 500901

(5)

Clem Fandango³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P Makin| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 99| BF| D

9/2

Was the ready winner of an Ayr Listed event (5f, good to soft) last year and has been competitive in a couple of Group 3s since. Went close again at this level at Musselburgh last time. Dropped 1lb and should be thereabouts.

Form: 12-4462

(6)

Gracious John²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Katherine Begley⁽⁷⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 98| CD

6/1

Goes well on soft ground and this is probably also his optimum trip. Did win this 12 months ago, but has shown his best form since when handicapping and won at Leicester last time (5f). Not ruled out from 2lb higher.

Form: 606351

(3)

Tomily¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Hollie Doyle⁽³⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 96| D

8/1

Handicapper took his foot off the throat before his last run and he won for the first time on turf this year at Doncaster (5f, good to soft). Up 5lb for that, so this now looks a tough assignment given previous form this year from similar marks.

Form: 844501

(8)

Green Door^v¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Jonathan Fisher⁽⁷⁾| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 96| D

16/1

Goes well over this trip with cut in the ground, though is without a win in nine starts since scoring at Newmarket last year. Could give him a squeak from this mark if reproducing his Leicester run from last month, but inconsistent.

Form: 340036

(2)

Hoof It¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mulrennan| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 96| D

15/2

Handles soft ground and rarely runs a bad race, despite not winning for well over a year. Beaten just 1¼L at Doncaster (6f, good to soft) last time and now nudged back up 1lb, suggesting that he will again be playing for the minor honours.

Form: 3-06604

(9)

Atletico¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: F Norton| T: R Varian| OR: 96| D

9/1

It is positive that his best effort to date was when winning over this trip at Windsor when there was cut in the ground in July, though not quite as positive that he is up 5lb for finishing over 2L behind Tomily at Doncaster and others preferred.

Form: 515086

(1)

Classic Pursuit^b³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁷⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 96| CD

50/1

Bolted up on good to soft over C&D last time out, though has yet to run well when conditions have been slower than that. That has to be a concern after a big hike up the weights for his 6L success and he will do well to follow-up.

Form: 631731

Forecasts

Perfect Pasture (5/2), Clem Fandango (9/2), Gracious John (6/1), Spiritual Lady (13/2), Hoof It (15/2), Tomily (8/1), Atletico (9/1), Green Door (16/1), Classic Pursuit (50/1)

Several in here with claims and the race could revolve around Classic Pursuit, who bolted up here last time and now takes a marked step up in grade. If that was no fluke then he should be involved, but a big weight rise and softer ground are a concern. Preference is for one who is more solid at this level in CLEM FANDANGO. Keith Dalgleish's filly has been competitive in a couple of Group 3s and is a consistent performer. It will be a surprise if she is not closely involved. Perfect Pasture, Hoof It, Green Door and Gracious John are others with a squeak.