Abbot Ale Handicap

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 3m 1.05s

(1)

Precision^b²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 75| D

2/1

Finished last over two miles here on Tuesday on just his second start for his new stable. Drop in trip may help and could get the run of the race in a small field but his form has been disappointing since his sole success.

Form: 4-70734

(2)

High Command⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: R L Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 75| D

3/1

Won twice on the fibresand for Roger Varian and while this is his course debut he has handled other AW surfaces. Well beaten in three starts for new stable but gets a welcome drop in class and returns to his ideal trip. Could easily bounce back.

Form: 330-700

(3)

Gripper^b1²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 67| BF

10/11

Remains lightly-raced and a maiden after seven starts but a beaten favourite on his last two runs and looked questionable in a finish at Lingfield. First-time blinkers which replace cheekpieces need to have desired effect.

Form: 5-92653

Forecasts

Gripper (10/11), Precision (2/1), High Command (3/1)

With just two in opposition Precision could be granted a soft lead but he did have that advantage at Beverley and he does need to raise his game at present. On the bare result Gripper was back to near his best form last time but he couldn't go past his rivals when presented with a great opportunity and needs to find more in a finish to break his maiden tag. It's a tricky race to weigh up with questions against all three, however it could pay to take a chance that HIGH COMMAND can return to form having fallen back to his last winning mark. That success also proved to be a career best over this distance and he looks the best handicapped runner of the trio.