14:55 Bath

Friday 19 April 2019

All13:5014:2014:5515:3016:0516:3517:05

Value Rater Racing Club Is Free Handicap

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 2m 25.84s

(3)

West End Charmer¹⁸⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 94| C

3/1

Has easily disposed of his rivals on his last two starts, including one here, and the form has been upheld since. Indeed the runner-up at Windsor has scored since and is rated 86, so he looks fairly weighted for his seasonal bow.

Form: 811-

(1)

Pablo Escobarr^t²⁰⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Charles Bishop| T: W J Haggas| OR: 93

7/2

Formerly with Mark Johnston and opened his account at Goodwood in September. A line through the runner-up gives him a bit to find with West End Charmer. His size suggests he may do better this year, but equally that he may need the run.

Form: 2421-

(5)

Living Legend²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 86

4/1

By Camelot and the first foal of a dam who won eight races. Bred for this sort of trip and has shown speed to win two AW contests over shorter. Clocked a good time at Kempton and his opening mark looks just about right.

Form: 51-1

(7)

Fearless Warrior¹⁷⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 84

9/2

Beat Just Hubert at Kempton before he was outstayed by a stable companion at Newmarket. Improved with every run so far, but yard have made a slow start to the season.

Form: 3312-

(6)

Just Hubert¹⁷⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: M Dwyer| T: W R Muir| OR: 83

25/1

Has twice finished behind Fearless Warrior and yard are just 2-37 in 2019. Bred to need this trip as a minimum and probably best watched.

Form: 5219-

(4)

Blood Eagle¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Hayley Turner| T: A M Balding| OR: 78| D

5/1

Received a good tactical ride to deny a hotpot 16 days ago on AW. Stable do well here with this age group and he's weighted to maintain his current rate of progress on turf debut.

Form: 521

(2)

Robert L'Echelle¹⁰⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: K T O'Neill| T: H Morrison| OR: 76

13/2

Gelded since his Wolverhampton success when he only needed to match his BHA rating to score. Bred to do even better over this sort of trip and there may be some value in his mark.

Form: 232-1

Forecasts

West End Charmer (3/1), Pablo Escobarr (7/2), Living Legend (4/1), Fearless Warrior (9/2), Blood Eagle (5/1), Robert L'Echelle (13/2), Just Hubert (25/1)

A nice bunch line up for this but stable form makes the claims of both Fearless Warrior and Just Hubert a lot less obvious. Pablo Escobarr is in very good hands, but for a horse of his enormous stature he may not be as fit as others. Mark Johnston is doubly represented and it looks significant that Franny Norton opts for LIVING LEGEND who is proven to be fit and who is bred to improve further over this trip. It is hard to knock his form to date and the handicapper has been fair. Blood Eagle and Robert L'Echelle are two more progressive types who look fairly treated, particularly the latter who had a lot in hand last time and will do even better over middle-distances.