188Bet Extra Place Races Handicap

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 2m 33.59s

(4)

Hollywood Road¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: H Crouch| T: G & J Moore| OR: 86| D

10/1

Didn't really have to improve on his debut for this yard to take a Lingfield turf handicap in May. Better effort since when fourth at Sandown last time, and not ruled out, but others better treated on balance.

Form: 34-3134

(2)

You're Hired²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Jason Watson⁽³⁾| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 85

10/3

Well below form on both starts last year, but returned from 10 months off when 2L second of 6 to Jazeel at Sandown in July, and will go well if that run hasn't knocked him back.

Form: 131/00-2

(6)

Fairlight²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: L M Cumani| OR: 83| D

6/4

Seemed to show much improved from when winning a 3-runner novice by 16L at Newmarket last time, although testing ground could exaggerate his superiority there. Still unexposed, though, and opening mark not punitive.

Form: 351

(5)

Morning Beauty¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Nicola Currie⁽³⁾| T: H Palmer| OR: 79| D

12/1

Front-runner who is best on a fast surface, making all to win at Haydock and Bath this summer. Well beaten at Newmarket last time, but pulled too hard there, and not judged too harshly on that effort.

Form: 5-01216

(3)

Final Rock^p¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 79| BF

5/1

A massive 29lb higher than when starting winning sequence at Chepstow in July, but might have made it a 4-timer but for pressing on too hard at Pontefract last time. Dangerous to assume he's now handicapped out of things.

Form: 7-21112

(1)

Surrey Blaze²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Finley Marsh⁽⁵⁾| T: J Tuite| OR: 78| D

11/2

Five wins this year, including handicaps at Leicester and Bath in July, and far from disgraced when 3¾L fourth of 5 to Highland Sky at Lingfield last time. Needs another career-best effort, but no knocking his toughness.

Form: 603114

Forecasts

Fairlight (6/4), You're Hired (10/3), Final Rock (5/1), Surrey Blaze (11/2), Hollywood Road (10/1), Morning Beauty (12/1)

Fairlight, who won by a huge margin at Newmarket last time, and the prolific Final Rock, are three-year-olds to consider seriously, but the vote goes to YOU'RE HIRED, presuming he doesn't bounce after a highly satisfactory reappearance at Sandown, and he's fairly handicapped after an abortive 2017 campaign.