17:30 Leicester

Wednesday 25 July 2018

All17:3018:0018:3019:0519:4020:1020:40

Betfair Novice Amateur Riders' Handicap

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 1m 24.89s

(6)

Emily Goldfinch^p⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Grace McEntee⁽³⁾| T: P S McEntee| OR: 54| D

9/1

Often makes the running, but benefited from more patient tactics when winning four-runner affair at Yarmouth last time. Well ridden by champion jockey there, and not an obvious contender to follow up under a penalty.

Form: 832051

(9)

Foie Gras^p⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss Jessica Macey⁽³⁾| T: C A Dwyer| OR: 58| D

33/1

Has won eight races, but all those successes have come on AW tracks, and while he ran well at Wolverhampton (1m½f) in April, he failed to fire last time, and returns from a break here.

Form: 960-427

(8)

Champagne Bob⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Ellie Mackenzie| T: R J Price| OR: 58| CD

2/1

Won a similar C&D contest off 3lb higher in October, and bounced back to form when landing apprentice event at Newbury last week. Can race off a lower mark than for that win, and looks to have an outstanding chance to follow up.

Form: 607601

(5)

Arcanista⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr M S Harris| T: C A Dwyer| OR: 57| BF

5/1

One win from 39 career runs tells a story, and while she has gone very close on her last two starts at Yarmouth, she has essentially been outbattled both times, and goes without her usual headgear here.

Form: 295822

(1)

Legendoire⁴⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr A Hark⁽³⁾| T: H Chisman| OR: 55

80/1

Best effort for John Gallagher when front-running third in a 7f maiden at Brighton in April 2017, but tends to find little, and hard to fancy starting out for a new yard after a lengthy absence.

Form: 579/739-

(11)

Carlovian^p³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: M Haigh⁽³⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 52| CD

5/1

Won this contest a year ago, and back to form when landing fast-ground 7f handicap at Ayr last month. Not disgraced when fifth of 12 there last time, and holds solid place claims.

Form: 7-09415

(4)

Big Amigo^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr Matthew Ennis| T: K G Wingrove| OR: 50

25/1

Landed 1m apprentice handicap at Lingfield in February, and ran well when 2¼L fifth of 13 to Agent of Fortune at Yarmouth last time for Mark Loughnane. New yard's last winner came in 2002, however.

Form: 238785

(10)

Gaelic Wizard^p⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Miss Amy Collier| T: K Tutty| OR: 50| D

25/1

Veteran who was helped by strong pace when winning similar event over 5f at Hamilton last month, but has run below form twice since without obvious excuse. Others more compelling.

Form: 514149

(7)

Great Colaci¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Joe Williamson| T: G Boanas| OR: 50| D

5/1

Tends to save his best efforts in this sphere for Newcastle, and engaged 4:20 there on Tuesday. Ran well over hurdles last time, though, and not dismissed if taking up his entry.

Form: 076-842

(12)

Space War^t³³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Alexander Fielding| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 49| D

20/1

Veteran who isn't the force of old, as evidenced by his inability to take advantage of a sliding mark this year. Not disgraced on recent runs, but hard to see him snapping losing sequence here.

Form: 602877

(3)

Poppy May⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr Kelvin Osborne⁽³⁾| T: J G Given| OR: 48| D

25/1

Sole success to date came in a low-grade AW handicap at Southwell (7f) in March, and turf efforts since that win have been poor. Plenty to prove on balance.

Form: 08-6109

(2)

Iconic Figure^p²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr Henry Newcombe⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 45

20/1

Best efforts this year have come over 6f on AW at Southwell, and easy enough to dismiss on poor form he's shown on turf more recently.

Form: 305960

(13)

Luduamf¹⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr H Sensoy⁽³⁾| T: M C Chapman| OR: 45| C

100/1

Won a 6f seller here for Richard Hannon as a juvenile, but form has regressed from that modest level since, and returns from a break for a new yard now.

Form: 52904-7

Forecasts

Champagne Bob (2/1), Great Colaci (5/1), Carlovian (5/1), Arcanista (5/1), Emily Goldfinch (9/1), Space War (20/1), Iconic Figure (20/1), Gaelic Wizard (25/1), Big Amigo (25/1), Poppy May (25/1), Foie Gras (33/1), Legendoire (80/1), Luduamf (100/1)

Last year's winner Carlovian hasn't been shaping at all badly of late, and has place claims along with the frustrating Arcanista, but CHAMPAGNE BOB gets a chance to race from a 2lb lower mark than when winning at Newbury last week, and looks an obvious pick to follow up.