17:45 Epsom Downs

Thursday 2 August 2018

All17:4518:2018:5519:3020:0020:30

Smarkets Steve Donoghue Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:45 | Winning time: 2m 10.92s

(3)

Iconic Belle⁸^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Scott McCullagh⁽⁷⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 69| D

5/1

Well placed to win three times over this trip in 2018, proving game when landing 3-runner event at Leicester last week. Can't knock her attitude, but no simple task under a penalty here.

Form: 264131

(7)

Gerry The Glover^h¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Charlie Bennett| T: L Carter| OR: 69

7/1

Capable of fair form, but losing run stretches back over three years, and typically looked less than keen when runner-up over shorter here last time. Opposable for win purposes.

Form: 334-092

(5)

Top Beak^h,t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Watson⁽³⁾| T: M J Attwater| OR: 64

5/2

Looked a good prospect when winning on debut as a two-year-old, but has lost all 26 starts since. Has gone very close on last two starts, latest over C&D, so sure to play a part, but not one for maximum faith.

Form: 765532

(1)

The Lords Walk^p⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Seamus Cronin⁽⁵⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 64

8/1

Consistent sort for Jarlath Fahey, gaining second win of year in a 1m2½f claimer at Sligo in June. Better than result on both starts for new yard (hampered last time), and one to bear in mind with good apprentice booked.

Form: 932169

(2)

Zoffany Bay^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: George Wood| T: A Stronge| OR: 63| D

5/2

Ran some creditable races last winter for George Peckham, and back to best for new yard when running-on second of 7 to General Brook in apprentice event at Chepstow last time. Looks capable of winning off current mark on that evidence.

Form: 58-2502

(6)

Presence Process¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Paddy Bradley⁽³⁾| T: P Phelan| OR: 59| D

14/1

Has won three times on Polytrack at Lingfield this year, but has finished last on both turf starts of late, and easy enough to oppose after latest poor effort over C&D.

Form: 531487

(4)

Zaria^p³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: Sophie Ralston⁽⁵⁾| T: R J Price| OR: 48| C

17/2

Beaten 2L into second in a four runner contest at Chepstow (1m, good) in June, but has run moderately either side of that effort and hard to fancy on balance of form.

Form: 8-46827

Forecasts

Zoffany Bay (5/2), Top Beak (5/2), Iconic Belle (5/1), Gerry The Glover (7/1), The Lords Walk (8/1), Zaria (17/2), Presence Process (14/1)

Gerry The Glover and Top Beak could easily take this on the pick of their form, and both ran well here last time, but neither can be relied upon as punting propositions given their respective losing streaks, and they are opposed for win purposes with ZOFFANY BAY, who bounced back to his best at Chepstow last time, and looked slightly unlucky not to score.