15:25 Beverley

Wednesday 19 September 2018

All13:5014:2014:5015:2516:0016:3017:0517:35

Eppleworth Handicap

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 2m 39.23s

(5)

Winston C^h1³⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: M Harley| T: H Fry| OR: 86| D

10/3

Winner at Wolverhampton last year for Michael Bell, and seemed to stay this trip when fourth at Haydock a year ago. Not seen since poor run on final start, though, and starts out for a new yard with a hood fitted.

Form: 313640-

(9)

Mutadaffeq¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 83| D

16/1

Back to winning ways at Ripon (1½m) in July, but that form hasn't worked out, and he's struggled off revised mark since. Ran poorly at Thirsk last time, and remains above his winning mark.

Form: 321440

(3)

Eskendash³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Callum Shepherd| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 82| D

5/1

Won a weakly-contested handicap at Ripon (1½m) in July, but could manage just a respectable 4¼ lengths fifth of 10 to Dubawi Prince at Newmarket last time, and new mark looks stiff enough.

Form: 356-615

(7)

Be Perfect^b¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 78| CD

20/1

Made all to land 4-runner contest at Doncaster in July, and bounced back from a couple of lesser efforts when 2¾L fourth of 16 to Arrowtown in handicap at Thirsk last time. Needs to show he can build on that.

Form: 331664

(10)

Sunglider³⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 77| C

50/1

Won a couple of 1¼m handicaps here last season, but has been off the track since running badly at Chelmsford just over a year ago, and has something to prove as a result.

Form: 701340-

(4)

Weather Front^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 76| C| D

4/1

Well placed to win four handicaps at up to this trip in 2018, including here, and again found plenty to score at Hamilton last time. Just 1lb higher than his peak rating for former yard, and looks poised for another big effort.

Form: 131211

(6)

Vision Clear^b¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: D Allan| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 80| CD

12/1

Best effort in handicaps when scoring over C&D last month in first-time blinkers. Disappointing on AW last time, although had excuses, and may do better back on turf here.

Form: 252315

(8)

Helioblu Bareliere^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁵⁾| T: I Furtado| OR: 66

11/1

Ex-bumper performer who remains a maiden. Finished a fair 5¾L third of 9 to Weather Front in handicap at Hamilton last time, and appears held by that rival on 6lb better terms, but may do better.

Form: 044333

(2)

Matewan^p²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: P Mathers| T: Ian Williams| OR: 68

11/4

Has improved for switch to handicaps, losing out narrowly at Newmarket (1¼m) before making amends there on latest start. Raised 7lb, but open to improvement at this trip, and looks the one to beat.

Form: 970-321

Non-Runners

(1)

Lopes Dancer¹⁸

Weight: 9-4| Age: 6

T: H Bethell J: Alistair Rawlinson

Forecasts

Matewan (11/4), Winston C (10/3), Weather Front (4/1), Eskendash (5/1), Helioblu Bareliere (11/1), Vision Clear (12/1), Mutadaffeq (16/1), Be Perfect (20/1), Lopes Dancer (33/1), Sunglider (50/1)

Two of these stand out from the others, and while Weather Front remains fairly treated despite four handicap wins this year, marginal preference is for the progressive MATEWAN, who can benefit from the weight-for-age concession. Helioblu Bareliere was third to Weather Front at Hamilton last time, and is entitled to close the gap now.