Watch Racing UK In Stunning HD Claiming Stakes

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 1m 24.14s

(5)

Acrux^h¹⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 72

11/4

Won just once in 17 career starts; in a 1m1f+Wolverhampton maiden in August 2016 for previous trainer David Lanigan. Solid enough on the AW at Newcastle (7f-1m) last back-end, but has had his fair share of winning opportunities.

Form: 3776-55

(6)

Al Khan^p⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Ben Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: K A Ryan| OR: 69| D

2/1

Should relish the quick underfoot conditions and has a reasonable chance on handicap ratings. His last success came in a 7f Wolverhampton seller in early February, and this probably rates as his best chance of victory since.

Form: 4-91353

(2)

Lord Rob^p³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 46

18/1

0-24 on the Flat (13 of those on turf). Ran well when beaten ½L in a Newcastle handicap (1m, AW) last time, despite carrying his head plenty high enough. Tough task at the weights.

Form: 3640-02

(4)

Space War^t³

Age: 11| Weight: 9-5| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 59| D

16/1

Veteran who is falling sharply in the weights. His last success came around this time in 2017 on the AW at Wolverhampton (6f). Well beaten in a Thirsk 7f handicap on Monday.

Form: 854-860

(3)

Gaelic Wizard^v²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-4| J: Gemma Tutty⁽⁵⁾| T: K Tutty| OR: 49| C| D

28/1

Has a respectable 10% career strike rate (8 from 80), and his last victory came at this track (6f good to soft) in August 2017. Likely to struggle based upon official ratings.

Form: 8756-55

(1)

Shovel It On³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: S De Sousa| T: P D Evans| OR: 71| BF| D

15/8

Won back-to-back juvenile contests (nurseries) during a productive seven days in August 2017 (6f-7f) before ending the season in a valuable sales contest at The Curragh (ninth of 29). Never competitive on his return at Windsor on Monday (6f).

Form: 31149-8

Forecasts

Shovel It On (15/8), Al Khan (2/1), Acrux (11/4), Space War (16/1), Lord Rob (18/1), Gaelic Wizard (28/1)

Handicap ratings strongly imply that three of these runners should be theoretically dismissed. Shovel It On is top-rated, but he never figured at Windsor on Monday, and worryingly drops quickly into a claimer (has he trained on?) Acrux is strongest on the AW, but regularly finds an excuse or two, or three for not winning, so for shekels we'll side with AL KHAN. He plundered a 7f Wolverhampton seller in early February, and this rates as his best chance of winning since.