16:00 Doncaster

Saturday 18 August 2018

All13:1513:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:05

Sun Racing Top Tips And Previews Handicap

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 58.79s

(2)

Harome²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Sanderson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 93| D

4/1

Enjoyed a stellar season so far, and whilst now up the weights, his recent York 'blip' was potentially attributable to the grade/trip and soft ground; ideal conditions today but a tough ask nonetheless.

Form: 271310

(8)

Orvar²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: P Makin| T: P T Midgley| OR: 91| D

10/1

His most recent wins have come on the AW (5f), and in truth he shouldn't be capable of taking this on the strength of his latest turf efforts; handicap mark slowly easing.

Form: 240380

(10)

Carlton Frankie^h⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 88| D

7/1

Dropped in grade to take a 5f fillies handicap (first-time hood) at Redcar in May, but has come up short in better races since; not totally discounted given her preference for quick ground but needs more.

Form: 0-49165

(6)

Orient Class¹⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: D C Costello| T: P T Midgley| OR: 87| D

33/1

Freshened up after a four and a half month break, and back on turf for the first time since 2017; 3lb above his last winning mark in a valuable Class 3 handicap at Musselburgh in June 2017 (5f, good to firm).

Form: 4936-85

(5)

Classic Pursuit^b¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 86| D

7/1

Thriving and has bossed his rivals from the outset in landing a hat-trick of 5f Class 5 races since late July; up the weights a further 6lb (and in grade), but with Gabriele Malune now taking over in the saddle.

Form: 725111

(7)

East Street Revue^b⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 85| D

9/2

Competitively handicapped on his late season 5f York win (October 2017), and showed more when racing up with the pace over 6f at Redcar last week; only a matter of time before he strikes and a return to this 5f trip will suit.

Form: 0-00593

(1)

Shepherd's Purse^v¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: S Donohoe| T: D Loughnane| OR: 82

5/1

Generally most effective over 6f-7f, although his positive run style suggests he should be able to cope with dropping back to 5f; quick ground suits and his best run in 2018 came at Ascot in May when beaten a neck by Moonraker (now 5lb higher).

Form: 262660

(3)

Machree²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: S A Gray| T: D Carroll| OR: 80| D

14/1

Versatile filly in terms of ground conditions having won over 5f on both good to firm and soft; still 8lb above her last winning mark (Class 5), and this is probably asking a little too much.

Form: 1-71546

(9)

Bashiba^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-6| J: F Norton| T: N Tinkler| OR: 76| CD

8/1

Well suited by this C&D (race winner in 2016), and just 2lb above his last winning mark in June (5f, Nottingham, good to firm); must better his last couple of outings, but not hastily overlooked.

Form: 481596

(4)

Compas Scoobie^h,t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: P Mathers| T: S C Williams| OR: 76| D

12/1

Kept busy in 2018, but had seemingly lost his way since the end of the AW season until an improved effort at Sandown last month; interesting to see if he can build upon that with regards the future, but not one for today.

Form: 008084

Forecasts

Harome (4/1), East Street Revue (9/2), Shepherd's Purse (5/1), Classic Pursuit (7/1), Carlton Frankie (7/1), Bashiba (8/1), Orvar (10/1), Compas Scoobie (12/1), Machree (14/1), Orient Class (33/1)

Classic Pursuit commands respect given the way that he's brushed aside inferior rivals (Class 5) in landing a quickfire summer hat-trick, but this is a whole different ball game. EAST STREET REVUE rates as a winner in waiting, and fairly versatile in terms of run style can surely afford to allow Classic Pursuit to blaze the early trail. He demonstrated his well-being when placed over 6f at Redcar last week, and now 4lb lower than when seeing off 19 others at York in October 2017 rates as the best bet on an otherwise difficult Saturday Doncaster card.