Octagon Consultancy Handicap

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 1m 10.24s

(1)

Red Alert^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: A W Carroll| OR: 76| CD

2/1

Uninspiring in two starts this term, though was largely unfancied for both of those assignments which were of a higher grade than today's contest. Should relish the return to calmer waters and this dual C&D winner is of strong interest.

Form: 11-4390

(4)

Field Gun^t,v1²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Callum Shepherd| T: S C Williams| OR: 76| BF| D

5/2

Turned over as favourite (9-4F) when disappointing at Chelmsford recently (7f; standard). That run can be forgiven, and he is still unexposed. Never raced over this trip though, and doesn't look to have obvious early speed.

Form: 224-125

(2)

Union Rose^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: David Probert| T: R Harris| OR: 73| C

3/1

Been on the go since finishing last in a seven runner affair on this card twelve months ago. Form has been up and down since, but posted a respectable enough run last time out when 2nd to Fair Cop at Chepstow (5f; good).

Form: 4-17372

(3)

Three Little Birds¹⁸⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Gary Mahon⁽³⁾| T: S Kirk| OR: 73| C

7/1

Could not be making seasonal debut at a better time, with her trainer operating at an impressive 33% strike-rate at present. Showed a willing attitude when getting up in the dying strides to win at this track last year and has solid claims.

Form: 221335-

(5)

Coronation Cottage¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Charlie Bennett| T: M S Saunders| OR: 69| BF| CD

8/1

Won at Windsor (5f; good) on seasonal reappearance, and then ran nowhere near as well as the market vibes suggested when sent off as the 9-4F at this track at the beginning of the month. Looked laboured that day and subsequently hard to fancy.

Form: 7/643-17

Non-Runners

(6)

Delagate This Lord³⁵

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: M J Attwater J: J F Egan

Forecasts

Red Alert (2/1), Field Gun (5/2), Union Rose (3/1), Delagate This Lord (6/1), Three Little Birds (7/1), Coronation Cottage (8/1)

Despite running poorly in a couple of hotly contested handicaps so far this season, RED ALERT should find this weaker contest much more to his liking at a track he does well at and he can gain his first victory of the season. The Sylvester Kirk yard are in good form at the moment with four winners from 12 runners over the last 14 days, which enhances the already solid claims of Three Little Birds who can prove the biggest threat to the selection ahead of Delagate This Lord who is likely to strip fitter for his seasonal reappearance effort.