Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 3m 3.89s

(1)

Brigadoon¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 71| CD

25/1

Scored over C&D from today's mark last March. Aside from a couple of decent turf efforts since then, he has been in the grip of the handicapper. He has now relented and despite the gelding's advancing years he could finish much closer again.

Form: 3233-66

(3)

Samtu^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Barry McHugh| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 71| CD

14/1

Goes well here and backed up a C&D win with success at the track over 1m4f in the space of a week last March. Now 8lb lower than the latter. Inconsistent, but if on a going day then he would have to enter calculations over what is his optimum trip.

Form: 00032-5

(6)

Sleep Easy^p⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: R Winston| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 69| C| D

6/1

Without a win on the Flat since 2015, though has made an impact over hurdles since. Won here over 1m4f and also at Lingfield from 3lb higher in the past. Will probably stay this far and would be interesting if supported from this mark.

Form: 580767-

(2)

Senatus^h⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: P J McDonald| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 63| C

8/13

Arrives in good form having built towards his win last time out here over 1m4f. Was doing his best work at the finish there and the step back up in trip looks very positive, so he is short-listed for the follow-up under his 6lb penalty.

Form: 4754-21

(4)

Cousin Khee⁵⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 9-7| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: H Morrison| OR: 64| CD

6/1

Won over C&D in 2014, though now on a losing run of 20 under both codes since then. Ran well again back here last time when a 3¾L runner-up. Has been nudged up 1lb for that effort, so looks likely to find a couple too good again.

Form: 556642-

(5)

Epicurious^b1¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: K T O'Neill| T: B J Meehan| OR: 56

16/1

Has looked a modest performer in four starts to date at up to 1m3½f. Beaten 9L over 1m2f on AW debut at Lingfield last time. That came after a seven-month break, so should strip fitter and blinkers may help. However, stamina a concern on pedigree.

Form: 0/77-6

Forecasts

Senatus (8/13), Sleep Easy (6/1), Cousin Khee (6/1), Samtu (14/1), Epicurious (16/1), Brigadoon (25/1)

Potentially a trappy contest here with cases to be made for several, but we do at least know that SENATUS comes here in good form, acts at the track and is better suited by this trip than the shorter one over which he won last time, so he may be capable of defying 6lb penalty. Brigadoon is interesting now that the handicapper has released his grip, while Samtu is well handicapped on last year's form and could push the selection all the way.