Betway Handicap

Off time: 20:16 | Winning time: 1m 13.06s

(4)

Atletico¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 100| BF| CD

2/1

Record on tapeta reads 1122. Excellent run at the weights when runner-up in a conditions race before finding trouble here last time. Remains feasibly treated and effective at this trip so hard to ignore.

Form: 8671-22

(1)

Reckless Endeavour⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: D C Costello| T: J A Osborne| OR: 99| D

7/2

Came good ten days ago when able to sit behind and attack off a strong pace. A lot went right for him that day and a 3lb rise in the weights takes him up to a mark which has been beyond him.

Form: 53-7341

(2)

Tropics^h³²

Age: 10| Weight: 9-2| J: R Winston| T: D K Ivory| OR: 95| CD

7/2

Game and genuine veteran who has defied the handicapper twice in his last three starts. Has won off higher in the past but possible others are better treated int his.

Form: 74214-1

(3)

Reflektor⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 92| D

6/1

Got a clever ride to score last time when taking advantage of a drop to his previous winning mark. Nicely weighted with Tropics on running here in December and a 2lb rise still leaves him reasonably treated.

Form: 13088-1

(6)

Dougan¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: A Mullen| T: P D Evans| OR: 90| CD

12/1

Goes well here usually and his last run may have been needed. Down to an attractive mark and this six-time AW winner cannot be discounted.

Form: 58380-8

(5)

Compas Scoobie^h,t,v⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S C Williams| OR: 89| CD

13/2

Much better last time stepping back up to 6f when chasing home Reckless Endeavour. May well turn the tables on a track that suits and with a new headgear configuration.

Form: 05-3483

Forecasts

Atletico (2/1), Tropics (7/2), Reckless Endeavour (7/2), Reflektor (6/1), Compas Scoobie (13/2), Dougan (12/1)

Dougan is the only one of these who failed to run well last time, but that effort followed an absence and the handicapper has given him a chance. Tropics and Reckless Endeavour are less attractively weighted, but ATLETICO looks ahead of the game judged on his run in AW Championship qualifier when he looked to have plenty on at the weights. He failed to exploit a good opportunity last time after encountering trouble in running, but a decent pace looks likely and there should be no excuses. Reflektor should remain competitive despite a small rise in the weights and Compass Scoobie ran well from this mark last time and he tends to run well here.