Sri Lanka Staying Strong Handicap

Off time: 19:03 | Winning time: 2m 4.24s

(4)

Boerhan²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas| OR: 98

6/4

Debut winner in a 7f Newbury maiden before failing to win again in his juvenile season (highly-tried once). Still looked inexperienced on his comeback (track didn't look to suit; Newmarket); may well be more at home here in handicaps (first-time).

Form: 135-3

(5)

Travel On¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 97

4/1

Failed to win as a two-year-old (still ran respectably); took advantage of an easy opportunity to get off the mark on seasonal debut (first-time on AW). Showed improved form upped in grade last time; now in handicaps (first-time), a likely improver.

Form: 842-14

(2)

The Trader²³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 89

10/1

Twice a winner as a juvenile over 7f on turf he now tries this trip for the first time (only been as far as 1m) as he makes his AW/seasonal debut. Looks a touch more exposed than some of these but stable did win this last year; not written off.

Form: 41147-

(3)

Ritchie Valens¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: K T O'Neill| T: R Hannon| OR: 78

9/2

Still a maiden but has shown some fairly useful form (already had two runs this year). Improved when making his handicap debut over this trip last time (unfortunate to run into a good prospect); up in grade but will keep improving.

Form: 55-32

(1)

Fox Premier²⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 77| BF

7/2

Only ran at up to 1m as a two-year-old (looks as though 1m2f will suit); now makes his season/handicap debut. This will be his first time on the AW; yard are 3-21 with the three-year-old handicap debutantes this year; runs from just out the weights.

Form: 6526-

Forecasts

Boerhan (6/4), Fox Premier (7/2), Travel On (4/1), Ritchie Valens (9/2), The Trader (10/1)

The second three-year-old handicap on the cards and whilst this one doesn’t contain as many runners it’s no easier to solve that the preceding contest. The run of Travel On in the Sandown Classic Trial won’t have gone unnoticed by many and dropping back in class he’s likely to play a prominent part although the handicapper didn’t miss that effort. Boheran will be more at home on this more conventional track having struggled a little with the Newmarket undulations last time although his third to two useful types was sound enough. RITCHIE VALENS ran into a promising sort last time but did pull well clear of the rest and despite the rise in grade he’s taken to gain compensation.