19:10 Leicester

Saturday 16 June 2018

All18:1018:4019:1019:4020:1020:4021:10

Racing UK Handicap

Off time: 19:11 | Winning time: 1m 24.76s

(3)

Firmdecisions¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 83| CD

6/1

C&D winner who bounced back to form to win a big-field handicap here last time. Up 6lb for that win but quickened clear in good style and respected for a yard that has been in good form of late.

Form: 444001

(4)

Areen Heart^h¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: M Harley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 82| BF| D

6/1

Unreliable sort who often flatters only to deceive in a finish and has only one win to his name (two-year-old maiden). Very much ran to form last time out idling and getting touched off at the finish; hard to trust.

Form: D70-252

(7)

Cheerfilly^p²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Patrick Pilley⁽³⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 79| CD

25/1

Twice a C&D winner (scored on back-to-back visits last year) in a maiden and then back in a handicap. May well have needed her first run of the year but failed to come on from that outing last time and ran poorly on the AW.

Form: 1148-75

(10)

Zafaranah¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Fahy| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 72

50/1

Took a step forward from her previous starts when winning after a break on the AW doing well to beat a hat-trick seeker despite being hard to settle. Handicapper has looked in charge since but hasn't had the strong gallop she needs to run at.

Form: 527-135

(6)

Wilson³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: George Wood| T: L M Cumani| OR: 80| D

16/1

A two-year-old winner over 7f at Brighton he's so far been a little disappointing in handicaps this year (had a stiff opening mark). Not disgraced on his first start in this sphere he didn't really come on next time and more is needed.

Form: 714-00

(8)

Etisalat³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Dane O'Neill| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 79

14/1

Unexposed sort who has only raced three times wining on his second start on the AW over 6f confirming his debut promise. Made his turf debut over the same trip and looked as though he needed the run and an extra furlong; handicap debut.

Form: 31-4

(2)

Sergio Leone⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 79

13/8

Off the mark on his third attempt as a juvenile over 6f on the AW making all to touch off his main rival. Looked the sort to be suited by handicaps and so it proved on his debut in them despite taking a while to get going; more to come from him.

Form: 621-4

(9)

Kaser²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: David Egan⁽³⁾| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 78| BF

7/1

A beaten favourite on all three starts so far (placed in all three) but a little disappointing all the same. Dropped back to 7f last time for his turf debut he again ran below market expectations and now goes handicapping with a bit to prove.

Form: 2-23

(5)

International Man³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 76

7/2

His form slipped away as a two-year-old from a promising beginning (won on debut) but he came back to form on his first run of the season after 7 months off. Might have made his effort too soon there and claims if able to repeat that run (same mark).

Form: 42008-5

Non-Runners

(1)

Gibeno³¹

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: M Appleby J: Alistair Rawlinson

Forecasts

Sergio Leone (13/8), International Man (7/2), Areen Heart (6/1), Firmdecisions (6/1), Kaser (7/1), Etisalat (14/1), Wilson (16/1), Gibeno (16/1), Cheerfilly (25/1), Zafaranah (50/1)

One or two of interest here not least the last time out C&D winner Firmdecisions who despite a 6lb rise for that win still doesn’t look badly treated having won off higher marks in the past. Overall though SERGIO LEONE looks one to keep on the right side of having shown some promise on his handicap debut and that form has been well advertised by the exploits of the first and second since. Etisalat looks as though he will improve for the extra distance and going into handicaps and has scope whilst it would be foolish to write off Kasar despite three short-priced defeats. Areen Heart is likely to flatter to deceive once more unless he can be delivered right on the line.