19:15 Bath

Friday 20 April 2018

All16:4017:1017:4518:1518:4519:1519:45

Brakspear Oxford Gold Handicap

Off time: 19:20 | Winning time: 1m 11.42s

(12)

Dougan¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: S De Sousa| T: P D Evans| OR: 87| D

9/2

Not won since November 2016, but knocked at the door at Wolverhampton latest (6f), when a 6L runner up to Calder Prince. 0 from 16 on turf.

Form: 380-862

(1)

The Daley Express²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: F Norton| T: R Harris| OR: 86| C| D

11/2

The final leg of the Franny Norton four-timer here on Good Friday (5f heavy), and definitely shaped as if this extra half furlong would suit in downing Glory Of Paris by a neck. Up 3lb on fast drying ground.

Form: 61469-1

(8)

Buxted Dream¹⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: L M Cumani| OR: 80| BF| D

7/1

The handicapper has left him roundabout his last winning mark (Brighton, 6f good to soft), and that looks perfectly fair given that was a relatively uncompetitive contest. First start since October 2017.

Form: 221147-

(15)

Bahamian Sunrise^b²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: B A Curtis| T: J Gallagher| OR: 79

16/1

Beaten just a neck by Tahoo off this mark at Nottingham in mid-October (5f good to soft), and posted a respectable return to action at Kempton last month, so rates as obvious short-list material.

Form: 23527-4

(10)

Englishman¹⁸⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: S W Kelly| T: J M Bradley| OR: 79| D

33/1

Runner up at Windsor (6f good) in July 2017 and should be well served by decent ground conditions underfoot. However not that convincing in six subsequent starts, but helpfully sits on a fair mark accordingly.

Form: 864400-

(6)

Delagate This Lord¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: David Egan⁽³⁾| T: M J Attwater| OR: 78| C| D

10/3

Rattled off a quickfire hat-trick (including twice over 5f at this track) when switched to the care of this trainer in mid to late summer 2017. 4lb above his last winning mark and finished behind Dougan on seasonal reappearance.

Form: 31118-7

(14)

Red Alert⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: George Downing| T: A W Carroll| OR: 77| D

33/1

Won three times during the course of 2017 (disqualified once) for Jo Tuite and William Muir, including over 6f at Lingfield in October. Did okay on his first start for this trainer; who is in fine form, so progress anticipated.

Form: 63381-6

(11)

Pastfact¹⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R Winston| T: M S Saunders| OR: 76| CD

11/1

Has a decent strike-rate (4 from 14), and is no stranger to Bath with his career record here reading 4,1,1,4,1. Sits on a joint career high mark for seasonal reappearance and possibly best on rattling fast ground (albeit versatile).

Form: 113414-

(4)

Ballesteros⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 8-9| J: Rhiain Ingram⁽⁵⁾| T: R Ingram| OR: 71| D

50/1

Won a soft ground Windsor claimer for Richard Fahey in October 2017 (6f) and moved on for £7,000. Struggled on the AW, but back on turf for the first time since that success.

Form: 23108-0

(13)

Showmethewayavrilo¹⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Josephine Gordon| T: M S Saunders| OR: 71| CD

20/1

Idled and caught close home from a 3lb lower mark over C&D in August (good to firm), but did manage to score later on in the season at Goodwood (6f soft). Always respected at Bath, but race fitness taken on trust.

Form: 246188-

(5)

Secret Potion^p1²¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: David Probert| T: R Harris| OR: 70| CD

20/1

Both of his career successes have come at this track (5f & 5½f). Beaten 1¼L by Delagate The Lord on his penultimate start in August, and lines up for his seasonal reappearance in first time cheek-pieces.

Form: 143326-

(16)

Geoff Potts²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 69| D

8/1

On the premises on his seasonal reappearance at Musselburgh over Easter (5f heavy), beaten two necks by Jacob's Pillow. Lurks on a reasonable mark, and notable that he makes the long journey south (with stablemates) from Malton.

Form: 53437-3

(3)

Anonymous John⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Nicola Currie⁽⁵⁾| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 69| D

25/1

Hasn't won on turf since October 2015 (Windsor), and has done plenty of racing since then with only AW victories recorded. Beat Bridge Builder by ¾L at Lingfield in January (6f), but well held latest.

Form: 79-7140

(7)

Awesome Allan¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: K T O'Neill| T: P D Evans| OR: 67| D

20/1

Largely consistent on the AW since the turn of the year, but 0 from 15 on synthetics, so he's surely ready for the switch back to turf (4 from 20). Will win more races when the ground eases again.

Form: 223206

(2)

Everkyllachy^b¹⁰⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: J S Moore| OR: 63| C| D

50/1

Races at Bath for the first time since her soft ground success in October 2017 and looks the type to be suited by an extra half furlong. 4lb above that winning mark, and has won on good ground previously.

Form: 19963-7

Non-Runners

(9)

Manshood²⁶

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: P T Midgley J: P Mulrennan

Forecasts

Delagate This Lord (10/3), Dougan (9/2), The Daley Express (11/2), Buxted Dream (7/1), Geoff Potts (8/1), Pastfact (11/1), Manshood (12/1), Bahamian Sunrise (16/1), Secret Potion (20/1), Awesome Allan (20/1), Showmethewayavrilo (20/1), Anonymous John (25/1), Red Alert (33/1), Englishman (33/1), Everkyllachy (50/1), Ballesteros (50/1)

Typically competitive for Bath, with a number of those in the line up having shown strong form at this track previously including Pastfact, Delagate The Lord, Showmethewayavrilo and Everkyllachy. The Daley Express was one leg of the Franny Norton four-timer at the truncated opening Bath card on Good Friday, and he goes again from a 3lb higher mark over a trip which should suit. Both Geoff Potts and Manshood enter the reckoning with recent runs under their respective belts, but despite the high draw, we'll take aim at BAHAMIAN SUNRISE who could well gain revenge on his old Brighton conqueror Buxted Dream.