17:55 Leicester

Friday 5 April 2019

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

Simon De Montfort Handicap

Off time: 17:55 | Winning time: 1m 46.28s

(4)

Cheerfilly^b1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 70| C

4/1

Historically has enjoyed the vast majority of her previous visits to Leicester (1,1,8,2); runner-up to Floria Tosca over 1m4f here in August 2018; can be expected to draw some benefit from her recent comeback run at Lingfield; blinkers now applied.

Form: 04205-5

(7)

Sir Roderic¹⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: B R Millman| OR: 70| D

11/1

Versatile in terms of trip (6f-1m) and back down to much nearer his last 'winning' mark; tame effort from a wide draw when last in competitive action at Wolverhampton (6f) in October; feasibly might just need this race.

Form: 413740-

(3)

Art Echo^p,t¹¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: A Mullen| T: J Mackie| OR: 70

25/1

Has a string of 'duck-eggs' on his CV since a productive spell on Tapeta at Wolverhampton (7f) in July 2018; dropping down the weights on return to action from a 115-day absence.

Form: 120700-

(10)

Ventura Gold¹³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 69

25/1

Dropped into claiming company in order to regain some positive momentum during the latter months of 2018; soft ground winner at Lingfield (1m1f) in August before losing his way again thereafter; first competitive start for 132-days.

Form: 344109-

(6)

Oud Metha Bridge¹²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Shelley Birkett| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 67| D

7/1

Seven-race maiden on turf, albeit just 1lb higher than when beaten ½L by Sheila's Treat at Yarmouth (1m, good to soft) in October; had a fairly quiet winter on the AW (0-2).

Form: 002308-

(5)

Dashing Poet²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: David Egan| T: H Main| OR: 65| BF| D

9/4

Ultra-consistent on the AW over the past 3-4 months (1,2,3,3,2); came with her traditional late thrust when beaten 1½L by Gainsay at Lingfield (1m) three-weeks ago; fully capable on turf; a definite contender at this stiff uphill track.

Form: 01-2332

(1)

Ghazan¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: C Lee| T: K Frost| OR: 65

12/1

Ten-race maiden (0-6 on turf); has fallen 13lb in the weights since introduced to handicapping at this track (1m2f) in May 2018; yet to really threaten; look elsewhere.

Form: 3663-67

(9)

Elixsoft⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 65| D

3/1

Highly efficient on the Tapeta at Newcastle (7f-1m) but connections will now be running out of options there; six-race maiden on turf (rated 5lb lower); was mowed down late by Insurplus over 1m at Gosforth Park last week; likeable type.

Form: 5-43212

Non-Runners

(8)

Regular Income²⁹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: A West J: Charlie Bennett

(2)

Angel Palanas³⁷

Weight: 9-4| Age: 5

T: K R Burke J: Jonathan Fisher

Forecasts

Dashing Poet (9/4), Elixsoft (3/1), Cheerfilly (4/1), Angel Palanas (6/1), Oud Metha Bridge (7/1), Sir Roderic (11/1), Ghazan (12/1), Regular Income (12/1), Ventura Gold (25/1), Art Echo (25/1)

A tough finale. Both Elixsoft (Newcastle) and Angel Palanas (Southwell) are AW specialists seeking to exploit more lenient handicap marks on turf, with the former making considerably more appeal. Regular Income would probably appreciate a drop of rain, albeit couldn't be totally discounted should that not arrive. However, the pair of most interest are the Leicester regular Cheerfilly who should benefit for her recent comeback run at Lingfield (sports blinkers) and the Heather Main-trained DASHING POET. The selection is an in-form mare who is perfectly capable on turf, and will almost certainly appreciate the stiff uphill Leicester finish.