Bet Trifecta At totesport.com Handicap

Off time: 15:48 | Winning time: 3m 32.29s

(4)

Galileo's Spear¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 77

5/1

Globetrotter who has been restricted to the Fibresand at Southwell on his switch to the UK until today. Has a pedigree for stamina, so hard to be totally dismissive of his first try at 2m latest. Stable to fear, market informative.

Form: 4076-46

(5)

Eurato^p¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Edward Greatrex| T: S Gollings| OR: 72| C

12/1

Twice a winner at this track, and won easily by 7L over 1m6f here in June 2016. Back from a spell over hurdles with a laboured AW effort latest, and stamina a concern over 2m on the Flat.

Form: 23139-7

(6)

River Dart³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: George Downing| T: A W Carroll| OR: 70

14/1

An eight race AW maiden (dual 1m2f winner on turf), but in all fairness, he's only raced once at Chelmsford. Handicap mark slipping, but his stamina is the over-riding concern; albeit beaten just 3L by Isharah over 2m at Newcastle in early 2017.

Form: 33696-7

(2)

Diaktoros^p1⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: J P Spencer| T: Ian Williams| OR: 70

5/2

Looked a useful prospect when notching back-to-back 1m4f wins in 2015 but missed the entire 2016 and 2017 calendar years. Mixed messages since his return, but remains largely unexposed in first time cheek-pieces.

Form: 116/584

(1)

Mambo Dancer¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 71| BF| D

6/4

On the upgrade since tackling staying trips, with both of his 2m victories coming on Tapeta at Newcastle and Wolverhampton. Seems to handle this track, but no obvious excuse for being beaten 7L off this mark over C&D latest (1/1f).

Form: 00-1213

(3)

Di's Gift^h¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 8-11| J: Kevin Lundie⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 57| D

7/1

Hard to win with (1 from 24 career), but not with this trainer for all that long, making the frame on two of his three starts. Beaten 5¼L over 1m4f at Southwell latest, but that winner Star Ascending followed up at Lingfield on Friday.

Form: 668/383

Forecasts

Mambo Dancer (6/4), Diaktoros (5/2), Galileo's Spear (5/1), Di's Gift (7/1), Eurato (12/1), River Dart (14/1)

It remains early days for Galileo's Spear on these shores, and he's one to be cautious of on his first foray away from Southwell, but the likely favourite Mambo Dancer (twice a winner over 2m on Tapeta) appeared to have precious few excuses for his C&D defeat off this mark earlier this month. Therefore in a race which rates as trappy (despite the small field), a tentative vote goes to DIAKTOROS. His ability to stay is broadly untested, but he's largely unexposed for Ian Williams, and the application of first time cheek-pieces could help.