Lettergold Handicap

Off time: 19:20 | Winning time: 2m 51.08s

(6)

Smarter⁵⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Spencer| T: W J Haggas| OR: 80

15/8

Improved since upped in distance and been more consistent since stamina has been more of an issue. This is his stiffest test yet but feasible he can be a player. Worth considering.

Form: 46-7123

(2)

Cafe Espresso^b²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Joey Haynes| T: P Howling| OR: 80

33/1

Swapped hands for £20,000 after he won a seller for Archie Watson at Lingfield last month and was progressive for his former trainer. This is a good bit tougher and a 2lb higher mark says a career best is required.

Form: 9-11261

(4)

Monsieur Lambrays^p³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: Tom Clover| OR: 75

7/2

Open to improvement at the distance and will be making only his third appearance in a handicap, so feasible his mark is lenient. The betting can guide as he was a good second at Windsor latest, but previous form was nothing special.

Form: 96-772

(5)

Green Etoile²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: David Probert| T: A King| OR: 68

7/4

In good form under both codes and interesting that he's being kept busy; stamina shouldn't be an issue after a 2m win in a juvenile hurdle at Hexham but the pace of that race was slow and he might find this tempo less appealing.

Form: 740-1

(3)

Glutnforpunishment²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: S De Sousa| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 67

7/1

Been in flying form on the AW and has now won three times since March; only been raised 6lb for those exertions though; which casts doubt on the worth of the form. Well beaten when tried at this course as a juvenile but this a sterner stamina test.

Form: 7-13411

Non-Runners

(1)

Aktau²⁹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: R Varian J: S De Sousa

(7)

Cormier²⁰

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: Stef Keniry J: Liam Keniry

Forecasts

Green Etoile (7/4), Smarter (15/8), Aktau (3/1), Monsieur Lambrays (7/2), Cormier (6/1), Glutnforpunishment (7/1), Cafe Espresso (33/1)

There may be more to come from handicap debutante AKTAU and this son of Teofilo, who gave the classy Pondus (a colt who subsequently contested a Group 2 at Royal Ascot) a scare last time out, is the most appealing for a punt on this occasion. Smarter has proven stamina and looks the best alternative to the selection, while there's little to split Green Etoile, Cafe Espresso, and Monsieur Lambrays as best of the rest... the first named arrives in good heart so is marginally preferred as the best option from that trio.