starsports.bet Handicap

Off time: 18:31 | Winning time: 3m 11.02s

(1)

Prefontaine²¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 85| BF

4/1

Stayed on well to justify favouritism (6/4) on nursery debut at Nottingham (1m2f, good) last October; beaten off this mark next time, but there's every chance on pedigree that he'll be suited by stepping up in trip on seasonal reappearance.

Form: 03216-

(2)

Rowland Ward³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 81

5/4

Improving Sea The Stars colt who responded willingly for pressure when fending off a 50/1 shot on handicap debut (Class 5) at Doncaster (1m4f, good) last month; 6lb higher, and up in trip in a stronger race; merits respect.

Form: 24-21

(3)

Lord Lamington²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 80

7/1

Has progressed quickly on the AW since readily winning a Class 6 handicap at Newcastle by 7L in March; now 16lb higher than that starting base, but also a winner at Chelmsford (1m5½f) on his penultimate start; reverts back to turf.

Form: 6-41215

(5)

Queen Constantine^h³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: David Probert| T: W Jarvis| OR: 74

16/1

Off the mark at the sixth attempt when winning a nursery over an extended mile at Nottingham (good to soft) in the autumn; posted a promising comeback run when beaten just over 2L by Cuban Sun (1m2f, Nottingham); notably stepped up in trip.

Form: 63821-2

(4)

Seeusoon²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 72

5/2

Short odds winner of a weak Newcastle maiden (1m4f) in March; well beaten by tonight's rival Lord Lamington next up at Chelmsford (1m5½f); back on track with a third placed finish at Chester (1m4½f, soft) three weeks ago; prowess on quick ground?

Form: 0-4143

(6)

Tidal Point³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Nicola Currie| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 72

33/1

Made the frame on his third start in novice company (1m4f), albeit was beaten 12L by the winner Severance; needs to take a significant step forward on handicap debut or else he'll only be figuring positively amongst the back markers.

Form: 653

Forecasts

Rowland Ward (5/4), Seeusoon (5/2), Prefontaine (4/1), Lord Lamington (7/1), Queen Constantine (16/1), Tidal Point (33/1)

The recent Doncaster winner Rowland Ward is clearly on the upgrade, responding willingly for pressure when fending off an outsider on Town Moor, shaping as if a step up in trip could be within range. Both Lord Lamington and Seeusoon are previous AW winners who arguably must prove themselves as being equally effective on turf, with clear doubts about the latter in particular on a sound racing surface. Therefore, the advice is to plump for the reappearing top-weight PREFONTAINE who has a pedigree stacked full of stamina, and the potential to make up into a nice staying handicapper for the Master of Carlburg Stables Roger Varian.