20:30 Epsom Downs

Thursday 2 August 2018

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

Smarkets Handicap

Off time: 20:31 | Winning time: 1m 22.76s

(7)

Confrerie²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: P Cosgrave| T: George Baker| OR: 65

8/1

Well beaten on first two starts, but fared better when fifth of 9 behind King's Slipper in novice at Windsor last time. Opening mark looks demands more, but this is not a strong race.

Form: 005

(3)

Port Of Call^p³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Charles Bishop| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 64

7/2

Ran creditably on handicap bow at Windsor in May despite hanging, but he hasn't built on that, looking a tricky ride at times. Handicapped to play a big part if putting his best foot forward, and hard to ignore at this level.

Form: 74-4408

(8)

Don't Cry About It^p³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S De Sousa| T: A Stronge| OR: 63

3/1

Form is patchy at best, but he ran well when second at Redcar (1m, good to firm) in May, and failed to handle undulations at Chepstow last time. Could bounce back, but this track not certain to suit.

Form: 60-7228

(6)

Billie Beane²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: George Wood| T: Dr J D Scargill| OR: 57

8/1

Sir Percy filly who has looked a work in progress in three starts to date; not disgraced when fourth of 5 at Yarmouth last time, but another with whom the assessor is taking no chances.

Form: 654

(2)

One Flew Over²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: David Egan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 47

9/4

Essentially well beaten on all starts to date, including when well backed for two recent handicap outings; he did run a bit more respectably when mid-field at Pontefract last time, but more needed here.

Form: 00006

(4)

Following Breeze^p1³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Isobel Francis⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Boyle| OR: 46

9/1

Kept busy in the spring, and made the frame three times in similarly modest company, but form has taken a nosedive of late, and needs to bounce back in headgear after a break.

Form: 203280

(5)

Fanfare Lady²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Sophie Ralston⁽⁷⁾| T: W J Knight| OR: 45

12/1

Seven-race maiden who doesn't help herself at the start (regularly slowly away), and didn't shape badly in the circumstances at Brighton last time. Not really one to make excuses for, however.

Form: 8-70664

Non-Runners

(1)

Dories Delight³²

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: S Kirk J: Jason Watson

Forecasts

One Flew Over (9/4), Don't Cry About It (3/1), Port Of Call (7/2), Dories Delight (4/1), Billie Beane (8/1), Confrerie (8/1), Following Breeze (9/1), Fanfare Lady (12/1)

None of these can be described as solid, but the booking of Jason Watson looks significant for DORIES DELIGHT, and he's taken to find the necessary improvement to score on handicap bow. Confrerie is another handicap debutant who needs a market check, and Port of Call is the pick of thsoe with handicap experience, for all he's not always looked resolute.