13:40 Doncaster

Friday 27 April 2018

All13:4014:1514:5015:2515:5516:2517:0017:35

K8 Live Casino Handicap

Off time: 13:41 | Winning time: 2m 17.79s

(10)

Ship Of The Fen¹⁸⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Dane O'Neill| T: M Meade| OR: 81| BF

9/2

Won on handicap debut at Nottingham (1m1f, good to soft) at the back end of last season. Couldn't follow up off this 6lb higher mark next time at Newmarket over the same trip. Possible ground was a bit quick that day and should progress this year.

Form: 35216-

(4)

We Are The World^b²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Edward Greatrex| T: A Watson| OR: 79

16/1

Won at Wolverhampton (9½f, AW) in March before struggling off this mark at Newcastle (10f, AW) next time off this 2lb higher mark. Possible this flatter track will suit better but may struggle to hold a few improvers here.

Form: 8316-15

(3)

Glorious Army²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Liam Keniry| T: E Walker| OR: 77

6/1

Makes handicap debut after three qualifying runs on the AW. Opening mark looks fair based on those runs and makes the switch to turf today and steps up markedly in trip which should suit on pedigree.

Form: 5-24

(9)

I'm A Star¹⁶⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: S M Levey| T: S C Williams| OR: 75

20/1

Based on his second start at Epsom there is a case that can be made this is a lenient opening mark (winner now rated 98). Needs to bounce back from a poor effort at Wolverhampton on the AW in November but been freshened up.

Form: 528-

(8)

Brisk Tempo³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: P J McDonald| T: R A Fahey| OR: 75

14/1

Beaten 10½L in a novice event on return at Doncaster (7f, soft). Significantly up in trip for handicap debut but needs to improve on what we have seen so far.

Form: 72-8

(2)

Knightly Spirit²¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 74

5/2

Three runs in maidens last season, finishing with a weak effort at Goodwood over this trip on soft ground. Likely type to improve now tacking handicap company for the first time and should be taken very seriously.

Form: 733-

(11)

French Flyer²³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 74| BF

12/1

Showed lots of promise as a two-year-old running four times and winning once (on debut). Pedigree suggests this step up in trip should suit now tackling handicaps and not discounted if fit and ready to go.

Form: 1342-

(6)

Betjeman¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: H Morrison| OR: 73

7/1

Has looked a little short of pace so far including at Chelmsford (1m5½f, AW) last time. Drops back in trip today on first turf start but may not have the pace of a few of these.

Form: 0-334

(7)

Love Rat³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon| OR: 70

25/1

Seven race maiden who has raced exclusively on the Fibresand at Southwell. Big step up in trip for his turf debut and mark not overly friendly on what we have seen so far. Needs to improve.

Form: 5-2243

(5)

Cracker Factory¹⁷⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: William Carson| T: A King| OR: 69

12/1

Looked a little short of pace on his three runs at the back end of last season. Hinted a couple of times though that there is some ability there and this step up in trip for handicap debut looks a good move. Likely each-way player.

Form: 454-

(1)

Spark Of War¹⁸⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: G Lee| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 69

12/1

Three quick runs for a qualifying mark at the end of last season. Didn't show a great deal. Moves into handicap company off a low mark though and yard are very good at improving these types on the back of a break. Not discounted off a low weight.

Form: 436-

Forecasts

Knightly Spirit (5/2), Ship Of The Fen (9/2), Glorious Army (6/1), Betjeman (7/1), Cracker Factory (12/1), Spark Of War (12/1), French Flyer (12/1), Brisk Tempo (14/1), We Are The World (16/1), I'm A Star (20/1), Love Rat (25/1)

Plenty of potential in here and this is competitive. Ship Of The Fen could easily get back on track this year and is feared. Glorious Army and Cracker Factory both have the scope to improve now they are stepping up in trip. The short list is headed by KNIGHTLY SPIRIT who needs to bounce back from a disappointing final start in 2017 but has plenty of potential to improve past his opening mark.