Betway Middle Distance Handicap

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 2m 25.70s

(5)

Acker Bilk^p⁶^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 73| C

9/4

Looks to have taken well to this surface following up a good debut effort here (2nd) when winning over 1m4f last time with Epitaph back in second. Drops down a furlong here in an attempt to follow-up under a penalty and has a sound chance.

Form: 34-1221

(3)

Luv U Whatever¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 77| CD

11/4

A record of 9/19 on the Fibresand shows how much he loves this surface and he has form figures over this trip of 112121. Resumed winning ways over C&D last time (best effort for a while) but did have the run of the race and 4lb higher here.

Form: 532121

(2)

Serenity Now⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 9-6| J: S Donohoe| T: B Ellison| OR: 74| C

20/1

Like a few in this very at home on this surface and has shown a resurgence of late winning back-to-back Fibresand handicaps over further. Shaped well when beaten last time over 2m in a better grade and off the same mark here down in trip.

Form: 9441-14

(4)

Epitaph^b⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: S De Sousa| T: M Appleby| OR: 73| BF| C

5/2

Consistent sort who is no stranger to running here over a variety of trips and generally manages to hit the frame. He did look a little quirky again though last time and faces some more straightforward types here.

Form: 253322

(6)

Laqab¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: P Mathers| T: D Shaw| OR: 72

16/1

The only runner in the field who has not run here before he only has a Tapeta maiden win over 1m2f to his name when with Roger Varian. Two runs for his current yard have been below par; faces a stiff task against some confirmed Fibresand performers.

Form: 21/57-69

(1)

Star Ascending¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Rossa Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 70| BF| CD

13/2

Really found his form around here of late and is a four-time winner on Fibresand although the handicapper looks to have now caught up with him. Rather below-par off a career-high mark last time and may well find this too tough.

Form: 111146

Forecasts

Acker Bilk (9/4), Epitaph (5/2), Luv U Whatever (11/4), Star Ascending (13/2), Laqab (16/1), Serenity Now (20/1)

No shortage of good and winning Fibresand form here and despite the penalty ACKER BILK looked to win with a little in hand last time and could well have more to offer despite the shorter trip. It’s hard to fault the record of Luv U Whatever at this track especially at this trip and he’s looks the main danger with the seemingly rejuvenated Serenity Now another worthy of respect despite the shorter trip. Epitaph and Star Ascending both have form here but look held off their current marks.