Rancho Zabaco Handicap

Off time: 19:28 | Winning time: 2m 29.35s

(2)

Logician¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 90| C

1/5

Superbly-bred colt who looked a serious prospect when winning 19-runner maiden here (1¼m) by 2L from High Commissioner in May. Didn't need to improve to follow up at Newmarket recently, and looks the one to beat on handicap debut.

Form: 11

(5)

Massam⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: D M Simcock| OR: 88

16/1

Considerably more experienced than most having run seven times as a juvenile, winning twice. Limitations shown latterly, however, and has left Mark Johnston after a couple of poor runs this season.

Form: 1172-66

(3)

Just Hubert⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Kerrin McEvoy| T: W R Muir| OR: 80

14/1

Handled soft ground well when winning at Pontefract (1¼m) in October, and better effort this year when fourth of 10 to Sam Cooke in a heavy-ground 1m4½f handicap at Chester last time. Not certain to match that form on forecast quicker ground.

Form: 5219-64

(4)

Agent Basterfield²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 79| BF| D

6/1

Raised 10lb after winning by 13L at Brighton (1½m, good) on penultimate start, but couldn't repel the challenge of Natty Night in a match at Lingfield (1m3½f, soft) last time. May be worth another chance on better ground.

Form: 46-2212

(1)

Natty Night²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: M Dwyer| T: W R Muir| OR: 75| D

14/1

Best effort last year when fourth over 1m here on softish ground, and coped well with a soft surface when getting on top late in a match against Agent Basterfield at Lingfield last time. Needs to show she can repeat that in quicker conditions.

Form: 044-561

Forecasts

Logician (1/5), Agent Basterfield (6/1), Natty Night (14/1), Just Hubert (14/1), Massam (16/1)

A weak affair for the grade, in which the unbeaten LOGICIAN is taken to extend his unbeaten record to three. Agent Basterfield was beaten by Natty Night at Lingfield last time, but should be able to reverse the form on faster ground.