16:50 Leicester

Thursday 19 July 2018

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:25

Samworth Brothers Handicap

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 2m 32.30s

(6)

Caracas^v³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Joshua Bryan⁽⁵⁾| T: K Frost| OR: 56

5/1

Raced almost exclusively on AW, but matched pick of that form when runner-up in a 1¾m handicap at Nottingham last time when sporting a first-time visor. Needs headgear to keep working, but chances if coping with drop in trip.

Form: 645562

(5)

Albert Boy¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon| OR: 55| CD

6/1

Won a C&D handicap last year off a 3lb higher mark, and ran respectably when second of 5 to Garbanzo at Doncaster last time after a break. Should be in the mix if improving for that comeback run.

Form: 39-3852

(8)

Melabi¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Kevin Lundie⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 53| D

8/1

Fallen in the weights this year, and best effort for current yard when short-head second of 12 to Claramara at Beverley last time. Record in handicaps reads 1-24, so not one to go overboard about, but clearly handicapped to win at present.

Form: 0-07462

(2)

Shalamzar^p,t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: A Kirby| T: P S McEntee| OR: 51| D

16/1

Won a selling hurdle in December for Micky Hammond. Has shown little in four starts for current yard, but all have come under an inexperienced rider, so he can't be dismissed out of hand given positive jockey booking.

Form: 8/9-8788

(7)

Life Knowledge⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: B A Curtis| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 51| BF| D

13/8

No impact for a while for Patrick Holmes, including over hurdles, but new yard has revived similar types, and likely he needed debut for stable at Hamilton last month. One to be interested in from sliding mark.

Form: 2063-64

(4)

Oyster Card^v⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 50| D

25/1

Took 23 tries to get off the mark, and then duly followed up (both wins at Wolverhampton in the spring), but his revival proved short-lived, and he's run poorly on last two starts.

Form: 761100

(3)

Sexy Secret^p³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: J Mitchell| T: Mrs L Pearce| OR: 48

5/1

Best turf form at Yarmouth, and both wins on this surface have come over 1m3½f there, the latest five weeks ago. Balance of form suggests revised mark may be enough to prevent a follow up.

Form: 2-93051

(1)

Chorus Of Lies^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Liam Keniry| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 45

25/1

Long-standing maiden who hasn't seemed to benefit from wind surgery prior to debut for current yard, finishing well held on both starts four months apart. Plenty to prove at present.

Form: 5435/08

(9)

Threediamondrings^p,t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Ryan Tate| T: M D I Usher| OR: 45| D

25/1

Consistent at a modest level on AW, but turf form is much patchier, and he ran poorly at Lingfield (2m, good) on his latest start.

Form: 476529

Forecasts

Life Knowledge (13/8), Sexy Secret (5/1), Caracas (5/1), Albert Boy (6/1), Melabi (8/1), Shalamzar (16/1), Threediamondrings (25/1), Oyster Card (25/1), Chorus Of Lies (25/1)

MELABI is by no means a frequent winner, but he only just failed to get up at Beverley last time, and has never been so low in the weights. He's clearly capable of ending a barren run, and gets the nod over C&D winner Albert Boy, who will strip fitter for a recent run at Doncaster. Life Knowledge hasn't shown much for a while, but his new yard has been getting good results from similar types, and he's worth bearing in mind on his second run back from a break.