16:45 Epsom Downs

Sunday 30 September 2018

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

Saga Charitable Trust Handicap

Off time: 16:46 | Winning time: 1m 43.67s

(12)

Nightingale Valley^h⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: T P Queally| T: W S Kittow| OR: 74

16/1

Stepped up on previous efforts this season when ¾-length third of 6 to Dance Teacher over 7f here last time, staying on well. Worth a try at this trip on that evidence, and not ruled out.

Form: 220-573

(6)

Stringybark Creek⁵^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Laura Coughlan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Loughnane| OR: 67| D

13/2

Prolific in handicaps this year, his latest win under this rider at Beverley bringing his tally for the season to six. Had something to spare last time, and looks up to defying a penalty.

Form: 136411

(7)

Central City¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Jim Crowley| T: Ian Williams| OR: 76

9/4

Won on final start for Hugo Palmer at Wolverhampton last month, and improved on that to make a winning start for new yard in Leger Legends race at Doncaster. No reason to doubt that form.

Form: 005611

(10)

Deadly Accurate¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: H Morrison| OR: 75| CD

9/2

Not easy to catch right, but back to his very best when winning a C&D handicap last month. Followed that with a poor run at Redcar, but could be considered if that effort was forgiven.

Form: 367518

(8)

Duke Of North²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Isobel Francis⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Boyle| OR: 69| CD

16/1

Often slowly away, but goes well here, and won twice over C&D in July on fast ground. Best effort since when third of five at Brighton last time, and handicapper has given him a chance since then.

Form: 011563

(5)

Face Like Thunder¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Jason Watson⁽³⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 73

11/4

Best effort this season when winning by 5L at Thirsk (1m) on penultimate outing, and not disgraced off revised mark at Ffos Las, for all held every chance. Might be a tad high in the weights now.

Form: 565513

(9)

Gerry The Glover^p⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Rossa Ryan⁽³⁾| T: L Carter| OR: 67

16/1

Best effort in 2018 when runner-up here in July, but he's not fired since, and is hard to catch right at the best of times, with losing run stretching back to 2015.

Form: 092557

(1)

The Lords Walk^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Seamus Cronin⁽⁷⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 66

20/1

Placed over 1m2f here early last month, and respectable efforts on next two starts at 1m. Ran poorly last time, and opposable, for all a return to forcing tactics could benefit him.

Form: 692236

(11)

Demons And Wizards²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: S Kirk| OR: 71

33/1

Gradual improvement last year until turned over at short odds on final start, and he was absent until running poorly on return/handicap bow at Kempton early this month. Plenty to prove all of a sudden.

Form: 84422-0

(4)

Sheriff²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 70

50/1

Not discredited over 7f at Goodwood in June, but has been out of sorts since, including over hurdles, and makes minimal appeal here.

Form: 378409

(2)

Rivas Rob Roy¹³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: H Crouch| T: J Gallagher| OR: 66

25/1

Form is very patchy, and while he coped well with soft ground when runner-up at Brighton on his penultimate outing, his efforts either side of that have been uninspiring.

Form: 55-4917

(3)

Allegiant¹⁹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: S De Sousa| T: S C Williams| OR: 65

11/1

Left Roger Charlton after sole juvenile start, and shaped quite well when fifth at Kempton for new yard in February. Not so good next time, and while he should progress in handicaps, his absence since March is off-putting.

Form: 0-55

Forecasts

Central City (9/4), Face Like Thunder (11/4), Deadly Accurate (9/2), Stringybark Creek (13/2), Allegiant (11/1), Gerry The Glover (16/1), Duke Of North (16/1), Nightingale Valley (16/1), The Lords Walk (20/1), Rivas Rob Roy (25/1), Demons And Wizards (33/1), Sheriff (50/1)

STRINGYBARK CREEK won with something to spare at Beverley last time, and looks up to gaining a seventh win in the season with the same claimer riding again. Central City was right back in the groove at Doncaster on debut for Ian Williams, and while that race is something of a novelty, the form looks solid, so he is feared most, ahead of Deadly Accurate.