15:05 Epsom Downs

Sunday 30 September 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:1016:4517:15

Saga Magazine Handicap

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 1m 43.59s

(1)

Ganayem¹⁰⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 88

5/2

Won her first two starts this year on contrasting ground, looking a good prospect. Forgiven her effort at Royal Ascot on a couple of fronts, and significant that yard has hit form with a vengeance of late.

Form: 4-110

(4)

Akvavera¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S De Sousa| T: R M Beckett| OR: 87

7/2

Stamina stretched over 1m2f twice before she bounced back to win over 1m at Sandown. Should continue in form, although handicapper has taken no chances with an 8lb rise for that success.

Form: 1-42551

(3)

Ateem⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 85

28/1

Won at Brighton (1m) in May, but handicapper had his say, and despite four fairly heavy defeats since, she remains 6lb above her winning mark. Others stronger again.

Form: 210845

(2)

Arigato^p⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Josephine Gordon| T: W Jarvis| OR: 84| CD

6/1

Won at Newmarket in May, and benefited from front-running ride when scoring by a big margin at Sandown in July. Followed up under a penalty over C&D last month, but resumes 13lb higher than for penultimate success, which demands more.

Form: 132211

(5)

Sing Out Loud³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: H Crouch| T: G & J Moore| OR: 83| D

17/2

Won over 1m1f at Goodwood in May, and ran well on form next time, but two most recent runs at that venue have been well short of his best, and he is opposable on balance of form.

Form: 1-81407

(6)

Macaque¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Joshua Bryan⁽³⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 83| BF

7/1

Sole win came in a 2-runner maiden last year, but he looked as good as ever with a hood left off at Bath (1m) last time, when second to Ghayadh after attempting to make all. This looks harder with opposition for the lead.

Form: 692372

(7)

Ace Ventura¹⁰⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 80

4/1

Winner at Salisbury (1m, heavy) in October on second start, doing well have been keen early on. Better than the bare result on return at Chelmsford, and can take a step forward now. Unexposed, and respected for in-form yard.

Form: 51-7

(8)

Running Cloud^v³²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Hayley Turner| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 72

25/1

Yet to add to debut success, despite a number of creditable efforts. Not disgraced at Kempton last time, but now 0-9 in handicaps, and form has plateaued, making others more attractive.

Form: 532255

Forecasts

Ganayem (5/2), Akvavera (7/2), Ace Ventura (4/1), Arigato (6/1), Macaque (7/1), Sing Out Loud (17/2), Running Cloud (25/1), Ateem (28/1)

GANAYEM flopped in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot when last seen, but her yard is back firing on all cylinders at present, and she can make her class tell against lesser rivals. Ace Ventura is unexposed and better than he could show on his return, so rates the main threat ahead of C&D winner Arigato, who is on a hat-trick, but is up significantly in the weights.