15:45 Brighton

Tuesday 25 June 2019

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

Merci Pour L'Aventure Xavier De Carniere Amateur Riders' Handicap

Off time: 15:51 | Winning time: 2m 35.69s

(2)

Ezanak^t,v³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss Serena Brotherton| T: M Appleby| OR: 64

4/1

Can hardly be said to have impressed in his recent starts folding up very quickly on his last start at Doncaster in an apprentice contest. Well handicapped on his old form but has yet to score for this yard; needs a marked revival.

Form: 5-34600

(8)

Rose Crown²⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Miss Nell McCann⁽⁵⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 62

10/1

Lightly-raced maiden on the Flat (0-5) who started out life in bumpers (placed in that sphere). Returns from a fair absence off her a career low mark but hard to fashion a cogent case for her on the evidence so far.

Form: 83380-

(7)

Punkawallah^p,t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr Tamby Welch⁽⁷⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 62

16/1

Not an easy sort to catch right although he would have a chance on his best form (well below his last winning marks). Best effort this year came on the AW (Tapeta) under today's rider; ran poorly last time, questions to answer.

Form: 20-3070

(12)

Strictly Art²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Miss Emma Jack⁽⁷⁾| T: A Bailey| OR: 61

10/1

Owner of a losing run that is starting to look an unenviable one; ran way below form in an amateur rider's event under the same pilot last time. Has shown some fair form in the past but not living up to market expectations this season.

Form: 676627

(11)

Orobas^v²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr Simon Walker| T: L Egerton| OR: 59

12/1

Kept busy this year; now back on the same mark as when winning a 1m2f amateur event under today's rider (a top-class pilot) on the AW at Lingfield. Form since then is rather uneven (not seen to best effect last time); respected at this level.

Form: 175676

(6)

Roy Rocket¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr R Birkett| T: John Berry| OR: 59| CD

7/1

Course specialist (won this race twice) who had nine course wins to his name but has looked this year as though Father Time may be catching up with him. Four consecutive lack-lustre efforts to his name; a revival is certainly needed for him.

Form: 4-05465

(1)

Los Cerritos^p,t⁴⁷

50/1

Only modest when last seen on the Flat and continues to show little over hurdles of late (pulled up last time out). Returns after a breathing op for his first Flat run in two years; others appeal more.

Form: 007424/

(4)

Happy Ending^p1¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Mr Matthew Fielding⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 50| C

6/1

Rated much higher in the past before losing her way but is a course winner over 2f shorter; looked capable of staging a comeback judged on her last run. Got minimal assistance from the saddle last time; cheekpieces on first-time; interesting.

Form: 6-00003

(10)

Thunderhooves^t⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Mr Thomas Miles⁽⁷⁾| T: J Ryan| OR: 46

50/1

Yet to make any impression in handicaps with his marks sliding accordingly although he looks far from certain to take advantage of that reduction. Failed to impress over 1m here recently; now up 4f in trip, makes limited/no appeal.

Form: 5800-70

(3)

Seventii⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: George Eddery⁽⁵⁾| T: R Eddery| OR: 45

4/1

Shows the odd glimmer of hope (did so on her penultimate outing) that she may be able to break her long losing run but given that record obviously comes with risks attached. Never better than midfield last time; needs other to underperform.

Form: 005336

(5)

Sigrid Nansen^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Miss H Welch⁽³⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 45

13/2

Still a maiden after 21 Flat starts despite the fact that she has run some sound enough races this year albeit in a lowly grade and off basement marks. Usually held up but went from the front last time; handles this track, place prospects.

Form: 933254

(9)

Mahna Mahna²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Miss A Peck⁽⁵⁾| T: David Drinkwater| OR: 45

33/1

Poor maiden who hasn't really shown signs that she is capable of changing that statistic this year having finished a modest sixth here last time over 1m2f. Now tried over 1m4f (first try at the trip); hard to see him winning this.

Form: 60/7-086

Forecasts

Ezanak (4/1), Seventii (4/1), Happy Ending (6/1), Sigrid Nansen (13/2), Roy Rocket (7/1), Rose Crown (10/1), Strictly Art (10/1), Orobas (12/1), Punkawallah (16/1), Mahna Mahna (33/1), Thunderhooves (50/1), Los Cerritos (50/1)

A win for course icon Roy Rocket would bring the house down but the winner of this in 2018/2016 off marks of 55 and 61 looks a light of his former self this season and it the winner of this is sought in other quarters. Simon Walker’s mount always attracts support in this company so it’s to be expected that Orobas will be prominent in the market in what looks a trappy heat. Strictly Art and Sigrid Nansen can both be given chances on some of their form but neither are what you would call solid citizens. HAPPY ENDING gets a tentative vote after showing that a revival could be on the cards last time at Bath under a considerate ride back at the scene of her only win.