17:10 Leicester

Tuesday 28 May 2019

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:10

Oadby Handicap

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 2m 8.9s

(4)

Fragrant Dawn^h1³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Dane O'Neill| T: C Hills| OR: 75

16/1

Hasn't really progressed in finishing third on all three starts to date, but is bred to be suited by this trip, and no surprise to see her step forward making handicap debut in a first-time hood.

Form: 33-3

(11)

Dancingwithwolves^h³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 75

14/1

Broadly similar form in a trio of qualifying runs at up to a mile. Needs to improve to defy a stiffish mark, but was keeping on last time, and should be suited by the step up in trip.

Form: 4-42

(8)

Starfighter³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: R Kingscote| T: E Walker| OR: 74

11/2

Best effort in qualifying last year when runner-up over 7f at Musselburgh on final start for Tom Dascombe, but he didn't improve immediately for switch to handicaps when seventh of 10 to Masaru in handicap at Sandown last time. May have needed that.

Form: 332-7

(5)

Baasem²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 74

7/2

Best effort as a 2-y-o when fourth of 16 to Surfman in a 1m½f maiden at Nottingham, and raced too freely in front when below that form at Chepstow (1¼m) on return having been gelded. Worth another chance.

Form: 74-7

(12)

Conundrum²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 73| BF

7/2

Beat Gennaro at Pontefract (1m) last month, but was a bit below form when 3¾L third of 6 to Gentle Look at Redcar last time. On the other hand, he's bred to appreciate this first attempt beyond 1m, so not a forlorn hope.

Form: 5743-13

(1)

Silkstone¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Rob Hornby| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 71| C

17/2

In the frame in a couple of nurseries last season, but beginning to look exposed, and hasn't found any improvement in two starts this season. Easy to oppose in a field full of potential improvers.

Form: 1842-47

(13)

Garrison Commander^b1¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 68

16/1

Showed plenty of potential on his first two starts last year, so disappointing that he's been nearer last than first since switched to handicaps this spring, and blinkers swiftly reached for now.

Form: 345-98

(6)

Thinque Tank¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: L P Keniry| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 65

9/1

Readily held on first few starts, but showed more when 5½L fourth of 13 to Jackamundo in a 1¼m handicap at Nottingham last time. Caught the eye making late ground there, and could do better again.

Form: 5874

(3)

Four Mile Bridge¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: F Sweeney| T: M D I Usher| OR: 64

33/1

Not discredited at Windsor last time, but he's produced a decidedly mixed mag in handicaps, and he's far from certain to be in the same mood this time.

Form: 30-3055

(2)

Jimmy Greenhough³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: P Mathers| T: R A Fahey| OR: 58

28/1

Has shown a bit more ability than his poor figures would indicate, although was disappointing on his first start after being gelded last time. Should do better, but opening mark is stiff on balance.

Form: 80-7

(7)

Road To Paris²⁰⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 58

7/1

Sent off at huge prices and well beaten on all three starts last year, looking too green to do himself justice, Type this wily handler excels with, however, and could improve markedly this year, so market check is essential.

Form: 006-

Non-Runners

(9)

Gennaro²⁷

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: I Furtado J: T E Whelan

(10)

Heatherdown³⁸

Weight: 8-6| Age: 3

T: Ian Williams J: David Egan

Forecasts

Conundrum (7/2), Baasem (7/2), Starfighter (11/2), Road To Paris (7/1), Silkstone (17/2), Thinque Tank (9/1), Heatherdown (12/1), Dancingwithwolves (14/1), Fragrant Dawn (16/1), Garrison Commander (16/1), Gennaro (16/1), Jimmy Greenhough (28/1), Four Mile Bridge (33/1)

Road To Paris obviously needs a check in the betting given his background, while Conundrum has the benefit of having won a handicap this year, and is bred to improve at this trip, but Owen Burrows is a trainer who does very well with his handicap debutants without getting the headlines, and BAASEM looks interesting on his 2-y-o form. He was too free on his reappearance, but that outing should help settle him down, and he gets the nod in a race which is hard to solve.