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Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 4m 32.49s

Whitsundays^t⁵^{(ex 7)}

Age: 9| Weight: 12-4| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 109| D

11/4

Didn't look the likeliest winner for much of the 2m1f contest at Kelso last week, but galloped on strongly from the second last to defeat Vengeur De Guye by 16L. Turned out quickly under a 7lb penalty, and this more galloping track is a plus.

Form: 11-3221

Casual Cavalier^p¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: G Bewley| OR: 110| CD

2/1

Driven out to score by ¾L off this mark over C&D in January 2017, and gave notice that his turn could be near enough despite being thrashed 16L by Rosquero at Ayr a fortnight ago. Obvious contender.

Form: 1123-32

Sharney Sike^v1⁵⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 102| C

9/2

A five time winner on the Northern circuit in his younger years, with three of those success (over much longer trips) coming at this track. Down the weights, but largely out of sorts, and the visor is applied seeking more.

Form: 273-45P

Charlie Snow Angel^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Jamie Hamilton⁽³⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 95

10/1

Winning point-to-pointer, but had been disappointing until a much improved effort at Hexham in November (handicap debut). Seemingly reverted back to his previous more moderate self at Ayr latest, so lines up with obvious risks attached.

Form: 21-2P25

Jaunty Thor^t²¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: R T Dunne| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 94| D

7/2

Won twice in the space of four days over hurdles in November 2016 (2m), but fallow for the remainder of his 19 race career. Not offered masses over fences thus far, but down in trip and a further 6lb in the handicap. Not raced since June.

Form: 8547-36

Duhallowcountry^b³⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 69| D

50/1

A regular in Durham at Sedgefield, with both of his rules successes coming at that track; the latest over an extended 2m in March (soft). Out of the weights today and hard to imagine he'll be able to compete as a result. Often leads.

Form: 76-7675

Forecasts

Casual Cavalier (2/1), Whitsundays (11/4), Jaunty Thor (7/2), Sharney Sike (9/2), Charlie Snow Angel (10/1), Duhallowcountry (50/1)

Not altogether easy to build a case for four of the field, so the most obvious pair to concentrate upon head the weights. Casual Cavalier is handicapped for further success, perhaps even more so at this track, but last week's ultimately emphatic Kelso winner WHITSUNDAYS is very tough to ignore under a 7lb penalty. Whilst he didn't exactly look the part early doors in that contest, Kelso is plenty sharp enough, and this more galloping track should play to his strengths. Given the manner of his victory (16L winner), the hand of his trainer is somewhat forced in terms of seeking future winning opportunities, so connections can't at all be blamed for seeking to strike whilst the iron is hot.