14:50 Leicester

Tuesday 29 May 2018

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:50

Stathern Claiming Stakes

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 1m 25.60s

(1)

Makofitwhatyouwill³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁷⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 41

100/1

Posted a better effort on seasonal bow at Catterick (7f, soft) but failed to build on it since at Wetherby. Very hard to make a case for now dropped into claiming company.

Form: 6008-70

(2)

Montague⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 81| D

2/1

Poet's Voice colt, finished second five times on the spin in fair company before two lesser efforts in decent handicaps at York and Haydock this month. Obvious chance in this grade.

Form: 222200

(5)

Ghost Serge²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 80

5/2

Showed pleasing early season form as a juvenile and was beaten just a head in a 7f Listed contest at Saint-Cloud in mid-July. Has taken a number of backwards step so far in 2018 but drop to this grade should give him claims.

Form: 56-4876

(6)

Star Of Zaam^p²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: C Lee⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 74

11/2

Catterick novice winner (6f, soft) last summer, appears to revel at the track having also twice gone close in 7f handicaps there in the autumn. Poor on reappearance at Redcar (1m, good to firm) this month.

Form: 33833-8

(3)

Straight Ash²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: R Hannon| OR: 58

6/1

Did win at Chepstow (5f, soft) last summer but poor in most of his efforts since, though did shape with more encouragement last time at Wolverhampton over 7f on the AW.

Form: 76-4795

(8)

Shovel It On²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: P D Evans| OR: 68| BF| CD

8/1

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). Not beaten far in Redcar claimer over this trip this month.

Form: 1149-84

(4)

Foxy Lady^p³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Ben Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: K A Ryan| OR: 60

14/1

Reported to have finished slightly lame when beaten favourite at Wolverhampton in April (finished 1¼L third of 11). Too keen over a mile next time at Wetherby (soft) and didn't get home. Could run well in this contest.

Form: 4-53337

(7)

Ruby Sound⁷⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Megan Ellingworth⁽⁷⁾| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 41

200/1

Beat wide margins in all four starts, including twice in sellers on the AW at Wolverhampton over 6f. Hard to envisage significant change in fortune over new trip.

Form: 976-9

Forecasts

Montague (2/1), Ghost Serge (5/2), Star Of Zaam (11/2), Straight Ash (6/1), Shovel It On (8/1), Foxy Lady (14/1), Makofitwhatyouwill (100/1), Ruby Sound (200/1)

MONTAGUE has often settled for the bridesmaid's role in better races than this since his last win but this drop into claiming company for the first time presents a decent chance to get back on track and he should take it. The big danger looks to be Ghost Serge, who has gone close in Listed company in France last year but must bounce back from some poor efforts in 2018. At a likely bigger price, Foxy Lady has some scope to improve her lot down in trip.