19:15 Windsor

Monday 1 July 2019

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Marathonbet Sportsbook Handicap

Off time: 19:15 | Winning time: 2m 7.70s

(1)

Stealth Fighter²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 88| D

7/2

Struggled to handle the additional 11lb given him after winning at Yarmouth in April although York race subsequently was a deal warmer than this. Ripon latest more of a disappointment and leaves him with questions to answer now.

Form: 25-4108

(3)

Al Jellaby^h⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 88

9/2

Two thirds to start the season and class 2 third of 16 at Doncaster looked very promising. Disappointing next however and remains winless in nine handicap starts.

Form: 6-35337

(8)

Rotherwick^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: P & O Cole| OR: 85| CD

14/1

Yet to run a bad race at this course and indeed his last win came here 13 months ago. Back to same winning mark now and after much more promising third latest in his second start of 2019 he should be primed for a bold bid.

Form: 2643-93

(5)

Grapevine^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 79| CD

11/1

Beaten ¾L by Lawn Ranger over C&D before going one better here over 1m last time out. Upped 4lb for that and based on the visual impression of their clash earlier 3lb may not be enough to turn the tables with the aforementioned rival.

Form: 7-23021

(9)

Maratha^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Levey| T: S C Williams| OR: 77

66/1

Two years now since his last turf win and form since then suggests that AW surfaces are favoured. Last of seven here last time out and such form gives him a good bit to find.

Form: 08084-7

(7)

Uther Pendragon^p³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Liam Keniry| T: J S Moore| OR: 76| D

14/1

Class 5 winner at Bath two starts back and ran similarly well last time out at the same level when third at Sandown. This two notches up the class ladder however so may prove a fair bit tougher.

Form: 5-99413

(4)

Madeleine Bond²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Harry Bentley| T: H Candy| OR: 76

9/1

Seemed to tire inside the final furlong at Salisbury latest in her first attempt over 1m2f although soft ground probably didn't help. Worth another go now and is well treated on her best form; trainer's two Saturday runners both winners.

Form: 852-803

(6)

Takumi^p1¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 84| BF| D

11/8

Goodwood winner on season/handicap/1m2f debut and has since run two solid races in defeat over the same trip with seconds at Ripon and Newmarket. Handicapper countering his progress to a degree but still has very strong claims here.

Form: 638-122

Non-Runners

(2)

Lawn Ranger²⁸

Weight: 10-0| Age: 4

T: M J Attwater J: Kieren Fox

Forecasts

Takumi (11/8), Stealth Fighter (7/2), Lawn Ranger (7/2), Al Jellaby (9/2), Madeleine Bond (9/1), Grapevine (11/1), Rotherwick (14/1), Uther Pendragon (14/1), Maratha (66/1)

In what is a really good handicap likely filled with future winners the vote goes to the lone three-year-old in the field TAKUMI for the excellent William Haggas. A winner at Goodwood before two good seconds he clearly remains on an upward curve so is worth following here with a stronger race possibly what's needed to bring out the best in him. Lawn Ranger is 2-2 over C&D and is clearly a danger to all once again although surely his latest rise of 7lb will slow him a little. Rotherwick is more exposed than the aforementioned duo but everything looks primed for him to run a big race here.