Millbry Hill Handicap

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 2m 44.06s

(3)

Mixboy²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 87| CD

10/3

Versatile performer who took this contest last year and won a Sedgefield handicap hurdle earlier this month. He is 3lb lower than when finishing down the field at Ripon in July and his stable is in good form.

Form: 16-2980

(6)

Dance King^p,t⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Cam Hardie| T: T D Easterby| OR: 86| D

4/1

Staying on when fourth over shorter trips on last two starts. Return to 1m4f ought to suit and handicap mark is not insurmountable

Form: 005544

(5)

Luv U Whatever^t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 77| D

28/1

Excellent servant who has won 15 races, 13 of them on the AW, Not at his best recently, but handicap mark is falling.

Form: 322760

(4)

Doctor Cross²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D Nolan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 77| D

4/1

Off the mark in a 1m4f Ripon handicap in June and was having his first run since when seventh of 14 over 2f shorter at Nottingham earlier this month. Should be sharper for the run and return to this trip is a plus.

Form: 5-36617

(2)

Midnight Wilde¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: J Ryan| OR: 81

6/1

Down the field at York last time, but the form of his victory off 1lb lower at Chester in July would give him a fair chance if he could replicate it. Bit to prove, however.

Form: 731040

(1)

Illustrissime¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁵⁾| T: I Furtado| OR: 73| CD

2/1

Good effort to be second at Leicester last month and was having his first run since a wind operation when scoring over this C&D 10 days ago. Up 4lb, but has to be taken seriously.

Form: 806921

Forecasts

Illustrissime (2/1), Mixboy (10/3), Dance King (4/1), Doctor Cross (4/1), Midnight Wilde (6/1), Luv U Whatever (28/1)

Illustrissime may well be sent off favourite to follow up his recent C&D success, but he has little in hand and a better option may be DOCTOR CROSS, who found 1m2f too sharp on his return to action at Nottingham and will be better served by this distance. Dance King is another who will enjoy a step up in trip, while last year's winner Mixboy is in good heart.