Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 2m 5.05s

(5)

Kyllachy Gala³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M Botti| OR: 97| BF

7/2

Four-time Italian winner and unlucky not to have won a race in Britain so far, having gone down by a short-head over C&D in December. Just below that form when beaten 4L here last time but eased in grade now.

Form: 68423-5

(1)

Celestial Path^p¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: D C Costello| T: D Pipe| OR: 97

25/1

Promising youngster for Sir Mark Prescott but regressed with age and switch to current yard for a hurdling career has not been successful. Fair reappearance after wind surgery and likely to come on for the run, though mark still looks high.

Form: 52076/4

(4)

Abe Lincoln^p,t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: J Noseda| OR: 95

6/4

Lightly-raced but useful form, most notably when short-headed in last year's Britannia Stakes (1m) at Royal Ascot. Only narrowly landed the odds in a 7f novice event last time but mark looks fair as he steps up in trip. Big chance if he stays.

Form: 52/003-1

(3)

Emenem⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: S Dow| OR: 93| CD

15/8

Edged out Kyllachy Gala for a second C&D win in December but slightly worse off at the weights now and was held off this revised mark when only fourth at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day. No margin for error.

Form: 833214-

(2)

Man Of Harlech¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: J R Boyle| OR: 87| CD

10/1

Gained the last of three wins for Andrew Balding over C&D in 2015 from a 4lb higher mark. Lightly-raced since but slightly underwhelming in three AW runs this winter, most recently over C&D. Dropped 4lb as a result.

Form: 450/594

Forecasts

Abe Lincoln (6/4), Emenem (15/8), Kyllachy Gala (7/2), Man Of Harlech (10/1), Celestial Path (25/1)

Britannia Stakes runner-up Abe Lincoln boasts an interesting profile and could prove a blot on the handicap, though he is stepping into unknown territory trip-wise and may be worth taking on if the odds are cramped. Little separates KYLLACHY GALA and Emenem on their running over C&D just before Christmas but the former now emerges slightly better off at the weights and deserves another chance at this level having found a Grade 2 just too much here last time.