15:40 Leicester

Monday 4 June 2018

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:1017:40

BetVictor.com Handicap

Off time: 15:42 | Winning time: 2m 6.32s

(1)

Imaginative³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 81

9/2

Improved effort to finish third in a maiden at Windsor in April and going the right way. The trip should suit and won't mind a bit of give underfoot. Sound claims if coping with top weight.

Form: 4-73

(3)

De Medici³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A Watson| OR: 81

3/1

Well held in a small field last time out and had previously finished last of ten on the AW at Newcastle. Plenty to prove just now and opposable at the weights.

Form: 1303

(12)

Paddy The Chef^t1¹³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: Ian Williams| OR: 78

33/1

Cost €10,000 as a yearling and has shaped as if a handicap is within his compass. His style of running does leave him open to attack though and, having disappointed as the evens favourite at Chelmsford on his penultimate start, he comes with risk.

Form: 42-4

(10)

Fleeting Freedom¹⁶⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Joshua Bryan⁽⁵⁾| T: A Bailey| OR: 78

33/1

Highly consistent on the AW and races off the same mark as when a good second at Chelmsford when last seen out. Freshened up since, the filly has conditions to her liking and, with a 5lb claimer assisting at the weights, a bold run can be expected.

Form: 334232-

(11)

Gendarme¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 76

20/1

Showed promise on his penultimate start at Nottingham but made no impression in a maiden at Newbury in May. More to do here and not hard to oppose.

Form: 03-0

(9)

Gododdin²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Josephine Gordon| T: H Palmer| OR: 76| D

5/1

Won at the first time of asking in a handicap when showing a good attitude to fend off a similarly game rival at Nottingham last month. Up 6lb for that success and also needs to prove he handles some cut in the ground. Place claims if doing so.

Form: 48-81

(7)

Beringer¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: M Harley| T: A King| OR: 75

11/4

Gelded and underwent wind surgery before the start of this season and seemed to be revitalised when second at Newmarket last month. Remains to be seen what effect a second wind operation will have had, though. One to monitor in the betting first.

Form: 0136-72

(13)

Go Now Go Now²³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 74

33/1

Went up 7lb for a winning a couple of modest handicaps last season. Gelded since last seen out and looks opposable in this tougher grade.

Form: 411264-

(4)

Berkshire Spirit¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| OR: 67

7/1

0-7 so far but has improved since being upped to racing over 10f this season. His latest third at York reads particularly well in the context of this race and certainly earns the gelding a place on the shortlist.

Form: 564-233

(5)

Milan Reef³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: S De Sousa| T: D Loughnane| OR: 67

20/1

Put in one of her better efforts when second at Chepstow last month but has been hard to get right since ridding herself of the maiden tag and now has a bit to prove in tacking 10f for the first time.

Form: 1925-02

Non-Runners

(2)

Trevithick²

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: B Smart J: G Lee

(8)

Rare Groove³⁰

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: Jedd O'Keeffe J: T P Queally

(6)

Capital Flight⁶⁵

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: P & O Cole J: Raul Da Silva

Forecasts

Beringer (11/4), De Medici (3/1), Imaginative (9/2), Gododdin (5/1), Berkshire Spirit (7/1), Capital Flight (10/1), Trevithick (12/1), Rare Groove (12/1), Gendarme (20/1), Milan Reef (20/1), Fleeting Freedom (33/1), Paddy The Chef (33/1), Go Now Go Now (33/1)

Freshened up from a break, Fleeting Freedom is an appealing each-way option in this wide-open handicap. The filly is a seasoned campaigner but looks ready for a crack at this sort of trip. However, IMAGINATIVE is going the right way and, as he has the proven stamina for this distance, he just gets the nod on this occasion. Gododdin and Beringer are others to take note of in the betting market.