Amix Handicap

Off time: 17:46 | Winning time: 2m 33.40s

(5)

Lucky Deal¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 88

11/4

Won a Chelmsford conditions event (1m2f, AW) in November and did well when trying to make all at Thirsk (1m4f, good to firm) last time. Initial handicap mark looks fair on that evidence and he can have a big say.

Form: 31-2

(2)

Deyaarna²¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Dane O'Neill| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 88

7/2

Finished last season with wins in both a maiden and a novices' event at around 1m2f on the All Weather, trying to make all both times. Steps up in trip here but looks likely to stay and looks a leading player.

Form: 5211-

(1)

Baileys Excelerate³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 85

6/4

Won a Beverley novices' event (7½f, good to firm) in August and put up his best effort so far on his handicap debut at Nottingham (1m1f) on his final start of 2017. Below that level on his return, but too early to write him off.

Form: 3122-8

(4)

Aiya^h²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 84| D

16/1

Won All Weather handicaps at Southwell (1m) and Lingfield (1m4f) in the winter. Well held in this grade on his reappearance at Leicester last month. Heavy ground may have been an excuse there, but a bit to prove on his first try on fast ground.

Form: 084-116

(3)

Rocky Shores¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: J F Egan| T: M R Channon| OR: 76| BF

11/2

Went close to breaking his duck in a Brighton handicap (1m4f, good to soft) at the beginning of the month, but held back over 1m2f last time and will need to improve now tackling this stronger opposition.

Form: 06-324

Forecasts

Baileys Excelerate (6/4), Lucky Deal (11/4), Deyaarna (7/2), Rocky Shores (11/2), Aiya (16/1)

Deyaarna rounded off last season in style and is open to improvement now tackling this longer trip. He looks likely to go close here, but preference is for the race-fit LUCKY DEAL, whose performance at Thirsk when trying to make all can probably be marked up a little and he gets the vote. Stablemate Baileys Excelerate can chase them home.