16:20 Nottingham

Thursday 14 June 2018

All13:4014:1014:4015:1515:5016:2016:5517:30

Doom Bar Summer Handicap

Off time: 16:22 | Winning time: 1m 13.39s

(6)

Aguerooo¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Joshua Bryan⁽⁵⁾| T: C Wallis| OR: 67| D

5/1

Winner at Chelmsford last time out and claimed by current connections for £5,000 from it. In good heart but turf record is poor compared to exploits on the all-weather and that has to be a concern. Passed over despite being in good form.

Form: 6-03081

(12)

Naples Bay²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 65| D

11/2

Took advantage of his falling handicap mark to score at Ayr last time and had been slowly running himself into form before that, so it wasn't unexpected. 6lb higher here but still on a good mark historically and yard now flying.

Form: 8609-31

(17)

Kingofmerrows^p³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Gemma Tutty⁽⁵⁾| T: K Tutty| OR: 64

12/1

Yet to win in 16 starts but almost got off the mark at the first attempt for this yard when narrowly denied at Newcastle in May. Not so good since but possible to find excuses for a couple of those efforts, and not totally dismissed.

Form: 952699

(3)

Decision Maker^t³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: R Winston| T: S R Bowring| OR: 63

9/1

No win in 11 but has run well here before and might be happier at this trip than shorter. Not in any great form, although not disgraced last time out, but on a good mark and yard like to land the odd gamble here. Watch market for a clue.

Form: 42-2606

(8)

Pretty Bubbles^v¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-11| J: M Harley| T: J R Jenkins| OR: 62| D

20/1

Have to go back to December 2016 to find the last time he visited the winners enclosure and despite the odd good effort (as at Southwell two starts back) is inconsistent and yard struggling for winners.

Form: 2-47525

(9)

Whitecrest⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 9-7| J: F Norton| T: J L Spearing| OR: 58| C| D

20/1

Genuine mare that tries her best, rattled off a hat-trick last year and now on a very good mark but she's not been in the same sort of form this time around. Needs to stage a revival and whilst that's not impossible, others are preferred.

Form: 846738

(15)

Eponina¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 58

11/4

Claimed by Mick Appleby for £6,000 after her second in a seller at Redcar last time out, her third runner-up spot on the bounce. May have been bought with later Southwell exploits in mind but solid chances here nevertheless.

Form: 33-4222

(4)

Lucky Lodge^v¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 57| D

16/1

Came good at Wolverhampton last time out but that was over 7f, which he seems to need these days. On the plus side, placed here three times and might get the pace he needs to come off, so place chances nevertheless.

Form: 584681

(14)

Savannah Beau^p,h¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: J Fanning| T: D Shaw| OR: 57| D

33/1

Well beaten most starts in the past year, might appreciate the return to 6f and could strip a bit fitter after a couple of runs this spring but still very hard to make any sort of case for at present. Yard in no form either.

Form: 9469-99

(2)

Blessed To Empress²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Lemos De Souza| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 64| D

14/1

both of her wins have come on the all-weather surfaces and her turf form simply isn't anywhere near as good, which is a concern. Relatively early days yet, so could turn that stat around, but does need to improve to take this.

Form: 473-618

(7)

First Excel^b²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: S Hitchcott| T: S R Bowring| OR: 55| D

20/1

Looks on a nice mark if he can reproduce his Fibresand form on turf and it was encouraging to see a better effort at Catterick last time out (over 5f). On the same mark here and a reproduction of that gives him a chance, especially back up to 6f.

Form: 6116-02

(13)

Le Manege Enchante^v⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: P Mathers| T: D Shaw| OR: 54| CD

66/1

C&D winner in the past and now back on the same mar as his last success, that coming at Thirsk last August, but like many from the yard appears badly out of form at present. Others preferred.

Form: 1693-00

(11)

Seebring⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 52| D

50/1

Was found a little race at Wolverhampton last October but still 4lb higher than that win and efforts this spring don't suggest his next win is around the corner.

Form: 001-644

(10)

Sarabi^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon| OR: 48

14/1

Poor overall win record (just 2-33) but capable of a good run when the mood takes her, as when a close third in a big field at Thirsk in May (actually won the race on her side of the track). Soft ground no help last time, and may go well.

Form: 6388-30

(5)

Drop Kick Murphi³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: G Lee| T: Mrs C A Dunnett| OR: 48| CD

16/1

Win over C&D last time came right out of the blue (went off 33-1) but no fluke about it and handicapper has been pretty generous with a 2lb rise. Was a useful juvenile and still very well treated on old form. Repeat can't be ruled out.

Form: 866061

Non-Runners

(16)

Cupid's Arrow²¹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: Mrs R Carr J: J P Sullivan

(1)

Etienne Gerard¹

Weight: 8-9| Age: 6

T: N Tinkler J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Eponina (11/4), Aguerooo (5/1), Naples Bay (11/2), Decision Maker (9/1), Kingofmerrows (12/1), Blessed To Empress (14/1), Sarabi (14/1), Lucky Lodge (16/1), Drop Kick Murphi (16/1), Whitecrest (20/1), Pretty Bubbles (20/1), First Excel (20/1), Cupid's Arrow (20/1), Etienne Gerard (20/1), Savannah Beau (33/1), Seebring (50/1), Le Manege Enchante (66/1)

Another contest with plenty of hold-up horses and it gives FIRST EXCEL a chance to make all. The extra furlong today will aid his chances and he looks ready to win after a good effort at Catterick last time out. Sarabi looks a real threat if you forgive her last run and there's a ready excuse as the ground wouldn't have suited her, so expect better here. Drop Kick Murphi, Lucky Lodge and Blessed To Empress all hold claims.