Alan Wood 50th Year Celebration Handicap

Off time: 19:46 | Winning time: 1m 45.13s

(5)

Branscombe²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 73

7/1

Inconsistent is the word to describe his performances although it may be harsh to judge him on his run over 1m2f last time having generally been kept to sprint trips. Can look a hard ride and tends to hang to his left which is far from ideal here.

Form: 719288

(1)

Tigershark²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 72

7/1

Makes his handicap debut having had just three runs in minor events where his unwillingness to settle has not shown him in the best light yet. Looks as though he will have more to offer in handicaps if he can overcome that trait; mark looks a stiff o

Form: 6-55

(6)

Global Exceed^b¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: B A Curtis| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 72

11/2

His best runs/wins have come in blinkers but he has overall looked an unreliable and quirky individual. The saving grace may be that he ran his best race of the season at this track however it is hard to trust him.

Form: 216-727

(4)

Salazar^p¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 70

14/1

Made a winning start to his career as a two-year-old at Ayr over 7f but has been very lightly raced since then only reaching the track three further times. Ran very poorly on his handicap debut over C&D and hard to have any confidence in him.

Form: 15-68

(2)

Delph Crescent^p¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 67

4/7

Back against his own age group having taken on his elders last time over C&D dropping in trip from his previous run. Yet to win a race but has looked better with the cheekpieces on (beaten by an in-form winner last time); sets the standard.

Form: 64-0062

(3)

Royal Liberty^p1⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: S H James| T: G A Harker| OR: 60

33/1

Cheekpieces go on for the first time but in his current form it will take more than the headgear to spark some improvement. Tried over 1m4f last time he ran poorly and he looks out of sorts for this yard after leaving Mark Johnston.

Form: 7600-57

Forecasts

Delph Crescent (4/7), Global Exceed (11/2), Branscombe (7/1), Tigershark (7/1), Salazar (14/1), Royal Liberty (33/1)

Not an enormous amount of strength in depth here with some quirky types in this who have disappointed in the past. Given those circumstances this looks a good chance for DELPH CRESCENT to get off the mark and build on his good second over C&D last time. Branscombe is a rather hard ride and going right-handed may not suit him while Global Exceed has been hard to trust in the past. The disappointing Salazar needs to find something extra and it may well be that the handicap debutante Tigershark provides the biggest danger although his mark does looks a little harsh.