Watch Racing UK Anywhere Handicap

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 1m 46.31s

(3)

Aquarium⁸^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 83| D

4/7

Gained his first win on turf with an emphatic 5L success at Epsom (1m½f) last week, and seems to be firmly back on track after an earlier inconsistent spell of form; 1lb well in under a 6lb penalty.

Form: 704971

(2)

Maypole¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Dane O'Neill| T: R Hannon| OR: 86| D

13/8

Impossible to knock for consistency, and remains very much an improving 3yo; finished in front of Aquarium when beaten a short-head by another Mark Johnston-trained runner (Book Of Dreams) at Chelmsford earlier this month; up 3lb.

Form: 2-21142

(1)

Groupie⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: A Mullen| T: T P Tate| OR: 74

20/1

Near enough her last winning mark (July 2017), but hasn't seen too much recent racing; ran a reasonable race despite finishing sixth of seven on her seasonal reappearance at Haydock in June (7f, good to firm); makes her first start over 1m.

Form: 61089-6

Forecasts

Aquarium (4/7), Maypole (13/8), Groupie (20/1)

A tactical affair looks likely, but Dane O'Neill will be fully aware that MAYPOLE is capable of front-running, and this improving three-year-old should prove tough to pass assuming that the fractions set are accurate. He finished in front of Aquarium (won since) when caught on the line by another Mark Johnston-trained runner (Book Of Dreams) at Chelmsford recently, and that form has a particularly strong feel about it with the third-placed horse Glory Awaits also entering the winners enclosure subsequently.