20:50 Nottingham

Monday 17 June 2019

All17:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:2020:50

Follow Racing TV On Twitter Handicap

Off time: 20:50 | Winning time: 3m 11.5s

(8)

Master Dancer^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Charles Bishop| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 70| D

25/1

Just one Flat run since winning at Chepstow in 2017 (ran poorly), but did get back on track when runner-up over hurdles last time from a falling mark. Claims if carrying that form back to a different discipline.

Form: 11361/9-

(1)

Cristal Spirit^p¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: P Cosgrave| T: George Baker| OR: 69

6/1

Beaten quite a long way at Kempton last time, but still beat most of his rivals, and had hit the frame in handicaps at Doncaster and Goodwood prior to that. Worry with him is that he's unproven on softish ground on turf.

Form: 531-243

(2)

War Brigade^p1⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Cameron Noble⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 69| BF

11/4

Soft-ground winner over hurdles, and better effort this season when neck second of 12 to Rake's Progress at Goodwood last time. Cheekpieces added, and will have a part to play if taking to the headgear.

Form: 4/613-72

(4)

Searching¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Gemma Tutty⁽³⁾| T: K Tutty| OR: 68

12/1

Has run creditably on all three turf outings this year, appreciating return to this trip when third of 9 to Royal Cosmic at Musselburgh (soft) last time. Shouldn't be far away once more.

Form: 4U-8453

(9)

Royal Flag¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 66

16/1

Best effort this season when runner-up in the mud over this trip at Haydock, but he might have been expected to do better when only fifth at Carlisle last time, and has a bit to prove on balance.

Form: 12-0825

(5)

Heron^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: B R Johnson| OR: 66| D

9/1

Has won over this trip at Chelmsford and Southwell this year, and capable of being competitive on testing turf, for all he ran poorly when last faced with similar conditions. Not ruled out.

Form: 287121

(6)

Omotesando^b³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 8-11| J: Hayley Turner| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 60| C

28/1

Ran quite well on quick turf at Chepstow (2m) early last month, but has been struggling for form overall this year, and never dangerous last time. Ground could bring his stamina into play, but he's hardly one to go overboard about.

Form: 2-5P949

(10)

Battle of Issus^b¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: S De Sousa| T: D Menuisier| OR: 59

11/8

Yard in great form and this unexposed gelding improved for stepping up to 1m5f at Hamilton last time, winning by 3¼L from Auxiliary. 4lb rise is very fair, and he looks a leading contender.

Form: 060-01

Non-Runners

(7)

Steaming²¹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 5

T: R M Beckett J: P J Dobbs

(3)

Kozier⁶¹⁹

Weight: 9-4| Age: 5

T: A King J: Tom Marquand

Forecasts

Battle of Issus (11/8), War Brigade (11/4), Cristal Spirit (6/1), Kozier (8/1), Heron (9/1), Searching (12/1), Steaming (14/1), Royal Flag (16/1), Master Dancer (25/1), Omotesando (28/1)

BATTLE OF ISSUS improved for the step up to 1m5f at Hamilton last time, and this longer trip, and the handicapper has not been severe in reassessing him. He is preferred to Heron and War Brigade in that order, the former racing on AW of late, but with form in these conditions in his back catalogue, and the latter beaten narrowly off the same mark at Goodwood last weekend, and just as happy in the mud.