15:30 Yarmouth

Tuesday 23 October 2018

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

RCA Flat Racecourse Groundstaff Award Winners Handicap

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 2m 24.29s

(1)

Esprit De Baileys²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Rossa Ryan⁽³⁾| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 77| BF| CD

7/2

Won two of his first three starts including over C&D after transferring from France and showed that he may not be done yet latest when second at Haydock over 1m2½f. Top apprentice lightens the load and rated a serious player.

Form: 29-1612

(11)

Bartholomew J⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Joey Haynes| T: Mrs L Pearce| OR: 74| CD

33/1

Won first three turf starts this season, all here including twice over C&D before well below par at Haydock which was hard to fathom. Could very easily bounce back now after a break as he goes well fresh and obviously loves it here.

Form: 531115

(14)

Butterfield²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: M Harley| T: W J Knight| OR: 71

12/1

Handicap debutant's best run in three novice events was his first at Goodwood when third before being well beaten twice on AW. Having only debuted this year he's clearly had his issues and handicap mark here looks tall order.

Form: 347

(3)

Potters Lady Jane³³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Josephine Gordon| T: L Wadham| OR: 71| CD

6/1

Built on two promising efforts when winning over C&D last time out in ready fashion. 4lb rise here in a considerably bigger field makes her life a little more difficult but stays well so a strong run race should suit.

Form: 2/06241

(7)

Mystic Meg²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J Mitchell| T: H Palmer| OR: 75

6/1

Gained second career success when winning by 2L over 1m2f at Sandown in penultimate start. Fourth of ten latest at Chelmsford with 5lb rise a fair run and now goes up in trip which could eek out more improvement.

Form: 844214

(8)

Ebqaa²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Liam Jones| T: J W Unett| OR: 68

25/1

Returned from a 143 day absence when winning for the first time at Chester over 1m2½f last time out at 33/1. Only raised 2lb for that success and open to more improvement now so is of interest despite this being a little tougher.

Form: 224-051

(13)

Spanish History^h,t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J P Spencer| T: S Durack| OR: 68

10/1

Over a year since his lone success in a 1m Windsor maiden. Third placed finishes three times this season his best efforts including latest at Kempton off same mark. Again has place potential but more needed to do better than that.

Form: 053353

(5)

Right About Now^b³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: C A Dwyer| OR: 68| CD

10/1

Had nine of his last 10 starts here winning three including over C&D last time out. Goes up another 6lb for that but been very progressive this season and clearly enjoys it here so very much one for the shortlist.

Form: 342131

(4)

Zatorius²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Jim Crowley| T: A M Balding| OR: 69| BF

4/1

Nine-race maiden finished third at Haydock latest (Esprit De Baileys second). 2lb better off with that rival but 2½L to find so reversal less than likely and therefore overlooked despite top connections.

Form: 334733

(10)

Love To Breeze^b²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Harry Bentley| T: E F Vaughan| OR: 67

10/1

Best run to date when second over 1m4f at Goodwood in the summer and looks likely to appreciate step back up in trip here after two subsequent runs over 1m2f. Two places behind Mystic Meg last time out at Chelmsford.

Form: 8-66236

(12)

Widnes^t,v¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: F Norton| T: A Bailey| OR: 60

25/1

Career record of one from 26 and only made the frame once in 11 turf starts. Fair C&D fourth two starts back but below that level since and overall is of little appeal.

Form: 346746

(15)

Reveleon^v1⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 64

20/1

Started well for this yard when winning at Nottingham and ran well next twice with third and fourth placed efforts before seemingly losing his way last twice. Now has enough question marks to look elsewhere although visor interesting.

Form: 413408

Non-Runners

(9)

Blooriedotcom¹¹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 3

T: P W Chapple-Hyam J: David Egan

(6)

Big Sigh⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: I Mohammed & J Santos J: Non Runner

(2)

Nelson River¹⁵

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: A W Carroll J: T P Queally

Forecasts

Esprit De Baileys (7/2), Zatorius (4/1), Mystic Meg (6/1), Potters Lady Jane (6/1), Nelson River (8/1), Love To Breeze (10/1), Right About Now (10/1), Spanish History (10/1), Butterfield (12/1), Reveleon (20/1), Blooriedotcom (20/1), Widnes (25/1), Ebqaa (25/1), Big Sigh (25/1), Bartholomew J (33/1)

A wide-open handicap this but top-weight ESPRIT DE BAILEYS can overcome that burden given his thoroughly progressive nature since moving over from France earlier this year. Dangers aplenty include Potters Lady Jane who won well here last time out and Right About Now who did likewise and is very much a course specialist.