32Red.com Handicap

Off time: 20:45 | Winning time: 1m 12.65s

(6)

Montague⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: D C Costello| T: J A Osborne| OR: 80

4/1

His two victories have come at 7f, but his attacking style of racing has seen him produce two good efforts at this trip. He was just denied by a well supported winner at Southwell and was forced to race wide last time. Looks one for the shortlist.

Form: 131523-

(5)

Our Man In Havana¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: R J Price| OR: 78| D

6/1

Winner of three races and just 1lb above his last winning mark. His two AW victories have come on tapeta and he was below par on this surface at Lingfield last time.

Form: 901215-

(2)

Choice Encounter³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Cameron Noble⁽⁵⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 77

9/4

Has finished second on four occasions but there appears little wrong with his attitude. Just touched off by an unexposed sort last time and the likely strong pace could set things up nicely for him.

Form: 422422-

(3)

Musical Theatre⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D M Simcock| OR: 72

7/2

70,000 guineas daughter of Exceed and Excel out of a 6f wining dam. Has shown some ability in three starts so far and is still far from the finished article. Hood removed for handicap debut and her initial mark is hardly generous.

Form: 624-

(1)

Falcon's Vision⁹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: D M Simcock| OR: 70

5/1

Has failed to build on a promising debut. Recent efforts dictate she needs to return to that level in order to make her current mark work.

Form: 4387-

(4)

Mother of Dragons⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Nicola Currie⁽⁵⁾| T: P S McEntee| OR: 67

10/1

There have been signs that she is better than this, but her last two efforts have been disappointing. Remains a maiden after 13 starts and hard to fancy having squandered easier opportunities.

Form: 72232-4

Forecasts

Choice Encounter (9/4), Musical Theatre (7/2), Montague (4/1), Falcon's Vision (5/1), Our Man In Havana (6/1), Mother of Dragons (10/1)

Montague and Our Man In Havana will ensure a good pace in a contest where few look well-handicapped. The former has the stamina to go 7f so can afford to attack hard from the front, whilst the latter needs to prove his effectiveness on the surface. Musical Theatre looks the pick of the Simcock pair, but this looks a good opportunity for CHOICE ENCOUNTER to open his account. Michael Bell's charge has been unlucky to bump into some useful unexposed types, but this race could set up nicely for him to attack from off the pace.