Unibet Handicap

Off time: 19:10 | Winning time: 1m 37.69s

(4)

Al Jellaby²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 87| D

5/2

Not lived up to early promise, and has been running well without threatening to win in the main. Did little wrong last time though, when fourth at Windsor (1m2f; good to firm) in a hot race and should appreciate the return to 1m.

Form: 353374

(2)

Balgair^h¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: L Morris| T: Tom Clover| OR: 85| CD

8/1

Rare poor run recently when only managing to beat two rivals over this C&D. Very consistent prior to that and is a C&D winner, so should probably be afforded another chance. Not open to as much improvement as some.

Form: 242-128

(1)

Almashriq^v1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Dane O'Neill| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 88

15/8

Still retains plenty of potential after just the four starts, and can be forgiven his recent eighth placed finish in a competitive affair at the July Festival here not long ago. This is easier and he could get back on track.

Form: 1-428

(5)

Arigato^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Josephine Gordon| T: W Jarvis| OR: 79| D

11/2

Posted seasonal best when runner-up at Epsom (1m; good to firm) last time. Vulnerable to improvers, but still holds genuine claims off what is an unchanged mark. Finished runner-up at this course twice in the past.

Form: 30-6742

(3)

Baba Ghanouj¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: E Walker| OR: 83| BF

7/2

Ran nowhere near the level that was expected recently when well-backed (EVSf) after an encouraging runner-up effort, and failing to beat a single rival in a four-runner affair at Salisbury (1m2f; firm). Still has potential. Not fully dismissed.

Form: 41-724

Forecasts

Almashriq (15/8), Al Jellaby (5/2), Baba Ghanouj (7/2), Arigato (11/2), Balgair (8/1)

Another small-field affair, in which ready preference is for ALMASHRIQ. We still haven't seen the best of this War Front colt, and he wasn't disgraced in a typically competitive affair over slightly further at the July meeting earlier this month. He can get back to winning ways at the chief expense of Balgair who turned in a rare below-par performance last time, but he had been in good form before that with a respectable second over C&D two starts ago. Baba Ghanouj ran a similarly poor race when more was expected last time and should probably be given another chance. She looked a filly with plenty of potential in this sphere prior to that mishap.