19:20 Bath

Wednesday 2 May 2018

All17:4518:2018:5019:2019:5020:20

Strakers Handicap

Off time: 19:24 | Winning time: 1m 14.21s

(5)

Athassel³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: Fran Berry| T: P D Evans| OR: 65| D

9/1

All eight of his career victories have come on the AW and this veteran has been running over trips that stretch his stamina of late. Drop to sprinting is an interesting move and is 13lb's lower than his last win so a good run wouldn't surprise.

Form: 6-55945

(8)

Jaganory^p²¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: David Egan⁽³⁾| T: C Mason| OR: 62| CD

10/1

Regular runner here and recorded back-to-back victories off marks of 57 & 61 back in August. Only 1lb higher today than for that last win and talented rider takes off 3lb so every reason to expect a good run on the back of a break.

Form: 711475-

(4)

De Vegas Kid⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: R Winston| T: A W Carroll| OR: 57

10/3

Finally notched a win at the 22nd attempt at Wolverhampton (7f, AW) on latest start. Given a short break and returns to turf off a 6lb higher mark but further progress is not impossible.

Form: 252-621

(3)

Dalness Express^p1,t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Ben Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 54| D

5/1

Has found marks in 50's beyond him so far. Takes a drop in trip on return to turf and rider claims a handy 5lb. Cheekpieces have ben added to the tongue tie to eek out a bit more. Hard to put a line through completely.

Form: 6-31523

(6)

Bonjour Steve^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: David Probert| T: R J Price| OR: 52| D

4/1

Form has had a regressive feel to it but was a little more encouraging after a wind operation at Southwell (6f, AW) last time. Has a better record on turf and is well handicapped on old form so wouldn't be the biggest surprise were he to bounce back

Form: 59-7003

(7)

Ambitious Boy^p³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 8-7| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 48| D

20/1

Form is a bit in and out and although he managed to win at Wolverhampton three starts ago, subsequent efforts have been poor. Hard to get too excited about his chances despite being well in on his old form.

Form: 667-106

(9)

Black Truffle^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-4| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽⁷⁾| T: M D I Usher| OR: 45| D

9/1

All eight career wins have come on the AW. 0/9 on turf which is off-putting. Has been running well on the synthetics of late though and gets in off a low racing weight. Place claims.

Form: 326232

(1)

Hit The Lights^b¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-4| J: J Quinn| T: A West| OR: 45| D

66/1

Not shown a great deal for quite a while and has bounced around various yards. Beaten a long way here on most recent start and will need to show a lot more before being of interest.

Form: 0/578-00

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 15p in the pound

Non-Runners

(2)

Majorette²²⁵

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: B Barr J: Joshua Bryan

Forecasts

De Vegas Kid (10/3), Bonjour Steve (4/1), Dalness Express (5/1), Black Truffle (9/1), Athassel (9/1), Jaganory (10/1), Majorette (12/1), Ambitious Boy (20/1), Hit The Lights (66/1)

Any money for Majorette on handicap debut would be significant and should be duly noted. Athassel is lurking on a dangerous mark and a drop to sprinting could spark him back to life. Bonjour Steve is another that is well handicapped and would be a danger to all if bouncing back. The selection is going to be JAGANORY. He likes it at Bath and is only 1lb higher than when winning here last summer and is taken to regain the winning thread on his return.