19:30 Doncaster

Thursday 26 July 2018

All17:1517:5018:2519:0019:3020:0020:35

Napoleons Casinos & Restaurants Sheffield Handicap

Off time: 19:31 | Winning time: 2m 13.75s

(2)

Vision Clear^p1⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: T Eaves| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 72

5/1

Twice denied by a head this season, the latest of those coming at Thirsk last time out when looking the likely winner, only to be denied very late. Cheekpieces might just work the oracle and off same mark, could go one better.

Form: 060-252

(5)

Rapier²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 72

1/1

Looked to lack a couple of gears on first handicap start at Yarmouth (last of four, beaten less than two lengths) so this extra furlong in his favour. Drops in grade and this does look easier, so with any improvement, should be thereabouts.

Form: 9-504

(3)

Raaqyah^h⁸⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 70| BF

7/2

Three starts over a mile (all on synthetic surfaces) have shown her to have ability, but on breeding this step up to 10f is not certain to suit. However, unexposed and yard often ready them for first time in handicaps, so chance has to be respected.

Form: 334

(4)

Cashel^t1²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 70

50/1

Best run of four to date came at Leicester in May where she was a respectable fourth, but latest two efforts a big step backwards. Goes into handicaps today and tongue tie goes on, which may remedy the situation, but clearly risky now.

Form: 0496

(1)

Tigershark²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 66

33/1

Some ability in four starts but generally has been too keen for his own good, and was well beaten on first start in handicaps at Beverley earlier in the month. Can't be entertained until learning to race better, and others preferred.

Form: 6-556

(6)

Thunderhooves⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: G Mosse| T: J Ryan| OR: 62

33/1

Shown little in four starts and was a well beaten last of five on his handicap debut at Musselburgh in June. Needs huge improvement from somewhere.

Form: 80-85

(7)

Archie Perkins¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 58

5/1

Found a little race over a mile at Newcastle last September and ran okay at Pontefract on latest start, but meets some likely improvers here and looks a bit more exposed than a few of these. Needs to find more.

Form: 5621-84

Forecasts

Rapier (1/1), Raaqyah (7/2), Archie Perkins (5/1), Vision Clear (5/1), Thunderhooves (33/1), Tigershark (33/1), Cashel (50/1)

Roger Varian's record at getting them to win first time up in handicaps is so good that RAAQYAH is the selection despite a slight worry about the trip. Over the last year he has a 26% strike rate first time in handicaps and that cannot be ignored. Vision Clear is knocking on the door and should be on the premises, and Rapier looks another likely improver too.