Betfair Casino Classified Stakes

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 1m 25.14s

(1)

Insurgence^p¹⁰⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 84| D

7/1

Won on seasonal debut last April and interesting to note the gelding starts from his lowest turf rating so far; best form has been on the AW - he's 0-5 on grass - but still dangerous to rule out.

Form: 366-236

(2)

Jalaad^h1²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: K Stott| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 87| BF| CD

5/4

A winner over C&D on his return in April but been an expensive favourite to follow on the AW twice since. The switch to turf can help and may also be sharpened up for the fitting of a hood. (His stable won this race last year.)

Form: 2-124

(4)

Key Player²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 84| BF| D

11/2

Has won on both turf and the AW and seems equally effective on both surfaces; run well in three starts since returning to turf but is 6lb above his winning mark at Brighton in May. Has a little bit to find on the official ratings.

Form: 284012

(3)

Whinmoor³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 89| D

13/8

Won four on the bounce last June/July and generally been in good form since. Has been dropped 4lb since the start of this season and still a little high for handicaps. Well worth a try in a race like this however.

Form: 126-205

Forecasts

Jalaad (5/4), Whinmoor (13/8), Key Player (11/2), Insurgence (7/1)

Another tricky little race which is likely to be tactical and cagey. However, the fitting of a hood on JALAAD can provide the ingredient that's been missing since his C&D win back in April and this lightly raced four-year-old, who was unraced as a juvenile, can regain the winning momentum if a positive riding strategy is employed. Insurgence goes well fresh but is better on the AW tracks, so it may be down to Whinmoor to provide the sternest test to the selection. Key Player can make the running but is rated 3lb inferior to Jalaad and might also struggled to gain an uncontested lead this time.