16:15 Leicester

Friday 5 April 2019

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2517:55

H.A.C. Pipeline Supplies Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 16:19 | Winning time: 1m 24.50s

(7)

Human Nature^t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Marco Ghiani⁽⁷⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 79| D

8/1

Justified favouritism when scoring off this mark (Jamie Spencer ridden) at Yarmouth in August (7f, good to firm); campaigned mainly on the AW since; race-fit; not beyond the realms of possibility that he'll play a prominent role.

Form: 26-5254

(11)

Custard The Dragon^v³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: A Mullen| T: J Mackie| OR: 78| D

20/1

Better known for his prowess on the AW (8-32); remains a maiden on turf (0-8) and is rated 5lb lower on the grass accordingly; no doubt whatsoever that 7f is his optimum trip.

Form: 5-25166

(5)

Scofflaw^v²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: A Kirby| T: P D Evans| OR: 78| D

9/2

2lb higher than when beating Holy Heart by ½L at Chelmsford (1m) in January; gaining at the finish third to Rampant Lion at Kempton (1m) on his penultimate start; stiff 7f on turf fine.

Form: 134536

(4)

Young John¹⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Rossa Ryan| T: M Murphy| OR: 77| CD

9/2

Hacked up by 6L in an amateur riders contest over C&D (good to soft) in late October; 10lb higher in the weights now, although did back up on the AW at Newcastle (6f) the following week; fresh from a 141-day absence.

Form: 241145-

(2)

The Lamplighter^t³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Nicola Currie| T: George Baker| OR: 75| D

9/2

Nine-race turf maiden, neck runner-up to Lamb Chop in a C&D seller in September (good); productive on the AW, namely at Kempton (7f) over the winter; solid second to stablemate La Maquina on recent comeback run; merits respect.

Form: 20715-2

(9)

Astrospeed^h³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: George Wood| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 73| D

6/1

Has upped his game markedly since joining James Fanshawe, upped in trip to 7f on the AW and hooded; arrives seeking a hat-trick for back-to-back Kempton wins; remains unexposed on turf, and just 3lb higher in the weights.

Form: 5023-11

(6)

Kupa River^h³²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 71

3/1

Running consistently well on the Tapeta at Dunstall Park Wolverhampton (6f); 2lb higher than when scrambling home from Aguerooo latest; should just about handle today's longer trip (1-14 on turf); others preferred.

Form: 365-221

(1)

Mighty Mac^p⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: L Morris| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 67

33/1

6f Lingfield novice median auction scorer for Ralph Beckett in February 2018; failed to kick on thereafter, and moved on after flopping at Thirsk in May; should benefit for the recent Newcastle run (stable debut); question marks at this stage.

Form: 51550-0

Non-Runners

(3)

Robero³⁷

Weight: 9-10| Age: 7

T: Miss Gay Kelleway J: Sean Kirrane

(8)

Intense Style²¹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 7

T: J L Eyre J: Faye McManoman

(10)

Vixen²⁵⁴

Weight: 8-12| Age: 5

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: Edward Greatrex

Forecasts

Kupa River (3/1), Young John (9/2), Scofflaw (9/2), The Lamplighter (9/2), Vixen (5/1), Astrospeed (6/1), Human Nature (8/1), Robero (14/1), Intense Style (16/1), Custard The Dragon (20/1), Mighty Mac (33/1)

Division 1 of this Class 4 handicap is a thoroughly interesting race with a couple of horses arriving seeking a hat-trick, and a number of others with seemingly realistic chances. Astrospeed has proved a revelation since joining James Fanshawe, and has clearly appreciated the combination of a hood and a step up in trip. He remains unexposed on turf and should be thereabouts (preferred over Vixen). Human Nature makes plenty of each-way appeal from his last winning turf mark and shouldn't be dismissed lightly, but the reasonably progressive THE LAMPLIGHTER gets the narrow nod after taking another positive step forward behind stablemate La Maquina at Kempton (7f) last month.