14:10 Epsom Downs

Wednesday 24 April 2019

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:2517:00

Investec Asset Finance Handicap

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 54.87s

(4)

Cox Bazar¹⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Jason Hart| T: I Furtado| OR: 96| DWS

25/1

Classy sort in France where he won six times including at Listed level. Last of nine on stable bow at Lingfield but back on turf now and after wind surgery he ought to fare better. Intriguing contender.

Form: 711069-

(5)

Boom The Groom⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: A W Carroll| OR: 90| D

10/1

Won well at Wolverhampton off 4lb lower two starts back but things went wrong last time when trapped wide throughout at Lingfield last time. Almost certain he fares better today and return to turf poses no issues.

Form: 03-7316

(3)

Midnight Malibu⁷^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 85| CD

16/1

Gained 11th career success at Southwell on the Fibresand latest and arrives here in good form and a past C&D winner. Carries a 5lb penalty which leaves her vulnerable but should still run a solid race.

Form: 77-4181

(1)

Merry Banter²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mulrennan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 85| D

9/1

Won three times over this distance in 2018 and ran well before tiring on return at Musselburgh when fifth. Career best needed off this mark but track should suit if getting a good start from stall one.

Form: 31471-5

(7)

Duke Of Firenze¹⁷⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-1| J: D Allan| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 84| CD

5/1

Now on a 21-race losing streak stretching back to May 2017. Not the force of old but competitive off higher marks last season nonetheless. Never won first time out.

Form: 008750-

(6)

Just That Lord⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: L Morris| T: M J Attwater| OR: 82| D

5/1

Finished third twice over C&D last year including in this race. Won on AW back in February so arrives in good form and given his track record he has to be considered a genuine contender.

Form: 460-165

(2)

Harry Hurricane^p⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Nicola Currie| T: George Baker| OR: 82| D

10/1

Useful at his best but not won since 2016. Ran pretty well on return at Lingfield when finishing best of all to be a 1L fourth. Not an easy ride and although he probably will win a race this season he isn't one to be confident in.

Form: 20427-4

(9)

Dark Shot^p¹⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁵⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 82| D

4/1

Not won since 2016 when with Andrew Balding but ran a whole host of good races last season including a close second first time out. Handicap almost certainly now within range and clearly goes well fresh so big chance today.

Form: 494500-

(10)

Shamshon⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: Harry Bentley| T: S C Williams| OR: 79| BF| D

9/2

Won three times this winter on the AW and has showed unique contours of this track hold no fears in the past. Turf mark 7lb lower than AW so starts out turf campaign as a potentially well-handicapped horse.

Form: 212756

(8)

Bahamian Sunrise^b²²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: S De Sousa| T: J Gallagher| OR: 75| CD

8/1

Winner of five races but his form has been up and down for a while. Hit rock bottom last time, but he's bounced back from two very similar performances in the past with a win and a second.

Form: 38930-0

Forecasts

Dark Shot (4/1), Shamshon (9/2), Just That Lord (5/1), Duke Of Firenze (5/1), Bahamian Sunrise (8/1), Merry Banter (9/1), Harry Hurricane (10/1), Boom The Groom (10/1), Midnight Malibu (16/1), Cox Bazar (25/1)

It has been a long time now since DARK SHOT tasted success but everything appears to be in his favour today so he is worth chancing despite that barren run. Shamshon has been running well all winter on the AW and off his lower turf mark here he looks an obvious threat. Just That Lord runs well here and is another coming off the back of a solid AW campaign.