18:15 Salisbury

Saturday 14 July 2018

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Bob Gibson 60th Birthday Handicap

Off time: 18:17 | Winning time: 1m 12.98s

(10)

Buxted Dream^b1³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: L Morris| T: L M Cumani| OR: 75| D

10/1

Ground may find this one out given that both his wins have come with cut in the ground and hasn't had his conditions this year. Blinkers now go on for the first-time in a bid to find some spark; has slipped 4lb below last wining mark.

Form: 47-0505

(5)

Danecase^t,v¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Jim Crowley| T: David Dennis| OR: 74| D

9/2

Has now edged down to his last winning mark and this headgear combination appears to suit him having been placed in it the last twice. Appears at home over this trip or a little further and one to consider on the basis of his last two starts.

Form: 6-44523

(3)

Lamya¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 77| D

4/1

Ran her best race in a short career so far when making her AW debut last time and appearing to be well suited to the surface. Now returns to turf a surface she has won on before hoping to repeat that last run off a 2lb higher mark; hard to rule out.

Form: 614-552

(6)

Blackheath³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: L P Keniry| T: E Walker| OR: 77

11/2

Came back from a break and a gelding operation to land an AW novice over 7f but hasn't fired in two handicaps since over that trip and further. Looks worth another chance stepping back to 6f having still been lightly raced.

Form: 382-136

(9)

Bounty Pursuit³²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: S De Sousa| T: M Blake| OR: 70| D

9/2

Jockey booking takes the eye as he's been apprentice ridden in all his starts for this yard running well but looking to need some more strength from the saddle. Just above his last winning mark but running well despite that factor and a player here.

Form: 05-2362

(7)

Vegas Boy¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Nicola Currie⁽³⁾| T: J A Osborne| OR: 76| D

11/2

Well supported at Bath he looked unfortunate to bump into another gamble and came off second best although not disgraced. Unexposed on turf he can run off the same mark here and should remain of interest.

Form: 13-7352

(4)

Chica De La Noche³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: N Mackay| T: S Dow| OR: 70| CD

33/1

C&D winner when she was given some help by the handicapper last year but only seen twice since and would have needed her comeback run after a break. Still 3lb above that last winning mark and faces some in-form types here.

Form: 7731U-0

(2)

Swanton Blue¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Shepherd| T: E De Giles| OR: 68| CD

12/1

Won his first start of the season for the second year running when scoring over this trip at Chepstow (3lb lower mark) and is a C&D winner. Failed to gain the lead last time back at 5f and will be dangerous if allowed an uncontested lead in this.

Form: 6036-15

(8)

General Jack¹⁰⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Oisin Murphy| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 73| BF

10/1

Conditions on his turf debut (heavy) must have come as a shock after two outings on the AW and he went with little fluency. Now makes his handicap debut but has less experience than the other three-year-olds in the field.

Form: 4-36

(1)

Spot Lite¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: J F Egan| T: B R Millman| OR: 64| D

14/1

A winner three times already this year (twice on turf) he wasn't disgraced off this mark last time although he does need to find some more to win off it. All his wins have been over just short of this trip and more needed to play a hand in this.

Form: 911316

Forecasts

Lamya (4/1), Bounty Pursuit (9/2), Danecase (9/2), Blackheath (11/2), Vegas Boy (11/2), General Jack (10/1), Buxted Dream (10/1), Swanton Blue (12/1), Spot Lite (14/1), Chica De La Noche (33/1)

A tight affair where nearly all the runners can be given some sort of chance with VEGAS BOY making a fair bit of appeal especially as he’s still unexposed on turf and judging by the market support the last twice connections think he’s on a good mark. Bounty Pursuit is another of interest with Silvestre De Sousa replacing the apprentice riders who have ridden him for this stable; the champion jockey used to ride him for a former stable. Swanton Blue is a player if he gets free on the lead while Blackheath is still lightly raced and has potential. Lamya can’t be ruled out with Dancase of similar ilk in an open contest.