Grundon Recycling Handicap

Off time: 17:20 | Winning time: 1m 26.25s

(4)

Top Score^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Jason Watson⁽⁵⁾| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 108| D

7/2

Three of his four victories have come at Meydan most recently when beating a field of 100+ rated horses over this trip in January. Not disgraced in a Newcastle Group 3 last time and rider's claim brings his weight to a more likeable level.

Form: 4-52134

(1)

Mankib²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 100

9/2

Had the subsequent German 2000 Guineas back in third when landing a conditions race at Maisons-Laffitte in 2017. His two victories have come over a mile and he made little impression on his return.

Form: 21/186-7

(5)

Amazour²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: I Mohammed| OR: 99| D

7/1

Took his record at Newcastle to 4-6 last month, but perhaps telling that he has lost all eleven handicaps he has contested when allotted a mark above 97.

Form: 0-15801

(3)

Medahim³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 96

9/4

Had a good festival campaign in 2017 winning at Newmarket in July and placed at Goodwood and York. Not at his best in 2018, however, and needs to rebound from a particularly poor run in the Royal Hunt Cup.

Form: 134-540

(2)

Lake Volta⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 101| BF| D

11/4

Probably flattered by a Listed victory at Epsom when finding the best ground to beat a sub-standard field. Has faced stiffer tasks since, but this looks a more reasonable test and the forecast of rain is a positive.

Form: 251054

Forecasts

Medahim (9/4), Lake Volta (11/4), Top Score (7/2), Mankib (9/2), Amazour (7/1)

All of these carry some form of risk with Top Score potentially facing a stiff task at the weights if some of his rivals produce their best. Medahim is attractively treated on his 2017 form but has been some way below those levels this term and Amazour has regularly failed from marks as high as this. Mankib is entitled to come on for his recent return from a long break, but there were few signs he was a winner in waiting. LAKE VOLTA has contested two Group 3s and a Listed event since producing a career best at Epsom in June which initially earned him a mark of 112. He races off a more realistic weight this time and that makes him the one to beat.