133rd Year Of The Watt Memorial Handicap

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 3m 36.47s

(5)

Snookered^p¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: B Ellison| OR: 72| C

4/1

Runner-up over hurdles at Hexham in March; reasonably consistent since returning to the Flat, beaten only 2L (fourth) on Tapeta at Newcastle (1m4f) latest; tackles a new trip on the Flat; ideally would prefer a softer surface.

Form: 3314-44

(6)

Rochester House¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 82

30/100

Consistent since introduced to handicapping and although probably holding few secrets from the assessor could possibly improve for stepping up in trip; no match for the Royal representative Calculation at Doncaster (1m6f, good) 18 days ago.

Form: 133432

(4)

Flower Power^p¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Hart| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 62| C| D

8/1

Generally can be relied upon to put her best foot forward on the Westwood (42126); that said, in 2019 she hasn't shaped like an obvious future winner; competes from outside of the handicap proper; others preferred.

Form: 995663

Non-Runners

(2)

Celestial Force³

Weight: 10-0| Age: 4

T: Tom Dascombe J: P J McDonald

(1)

October Storm¹⁷

Weight: 9-11| Age: 6

T: M R Channon J: G Lee

(3)

Always Resolute¹⁷

Weight: 9-10| Age: 8

T: Ian Williams J: P Hanagan

Forecasts

Rochester House (30/100), Celestial Force (3/1), Snookered (4/1), Always Resolute (4/1), October Storm (6/1), Flower Power (8/1)

Celestial Force has twice shown up positively since introduced to a visor, including as recently as on Saturday (Ascot) and this race represents an ease in grade. However, he's surely vulnerable over 2m given an aggressive run style and should be taken on at the projected odds. Rochester House has some respectable form in the book for Mark Johnston and ought to figure fairly positively, but a preference is for the Mick Channon-trained OCTOBER STORM who could well pick up the pieces late (from off the pace) and in the process of doing so record a first win since scoring at York in September 2017.