Amix Handicap

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 2m 31.4s

(2)

Lariat¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: M Dwyer| T: A M Balding| OR: 88

7/2

Soft ground Ayr novice winner last season and still improving this term, finishing runner up in handicaps at Sandown (1m2f, good to firm) and Chester (1m4½f, soft). Up another 2lb, but enters calculations.

Form: 313-22

(1)

Felix The Poet¹⁹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 87

12/1

Dual AW winner at Wolverhampton last year (both 1m½f). 4lb higher than the latter, but bit to prove back on turf, while this trip may stretch his stamina.

Form: 4181-

(4)

Sir Ron Priestley³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 86| D

1/2

Unexposed and improving colt who won easily by 6L on his reappearance in a Ripon novice event (1m4f, good) last month. Could be thrown in, based on that, on this handicap debut and looks very interesting.

Form: 24-1

(3)

Fraser Island⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R Kingscote| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 83

7/1

Couldn't win as a juvenile, but obliged on his reappearance at Beverley (m12f, good to firm) last month, when 6lb lower. Held at both Newmarklet and York since, however, so has a bit to prove.

Form: 553-127

Forecasts

Sir Ron Priestley (1/2), Lariat (7/2), Fraser Island (7/1), Felix The Poet (12/1)

Mark Johnston has won the last two runnings of this and we'll take him to complete the hat-trick with SIR RON PRIESTLEY, whose latest form looks very solid and he could be thrown in here on his handicap debut. Larlat is already more handicap-hardened and looks the danger.