17:45 Doncaster

Saturday 3 August 2019

All14:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:1517:45

Cliff Williams Memorial Handicap

Off time: 17:46 | Winning time: 1m 0.65s

(2)

Vee Man Ten^p1²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: I Furtado| OR: 72| BF| D

5/2

Blazed a trail until caught close home by a well backed winner over 5f at Ayr in June, and things didn't work out for him (awkwardly away and hampered) next time. Cheekpieces tried now, and capable of going close if bouncing back to his best.

Form: 14-7426

(7)

Timetodock^b¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 72| BF| D

6/1

Running well on good or softer ground on the whole, winning at Carlisle (6f) and Catterick (5f). Far from disgraced last time, and scores high marks for consistency if not especially well treated any more.

Form: 315213

(6)

Good Answer⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Dane O'Neill| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 72| D

7/1

Half-brother to useful sprinter Krypton factor, and built on promise of his return when winning a 5f novice at Bath by 1½ lengths from Khafooq. Runner-up won next time, and this unexposed gelding should make a bold bid on handicap bow.

Form: 7-51

(5)

Scale Force^v³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: George Wood| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 69| D

12/1

Best turf effort when second of 13 behind Celcius at Haydock in June, and just 1lb higher now. Visor he wore than is refitted after he ran poorly in blinkers at Yarmouth last time. Risky.

Form: 242727

(1)

Melrose Way⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: K T O'Neill| T: P T Midgley| OR: 66

7/1

Won on debut in a 6f novice at Pontefract in April, and back to that form at second attempt when fourth of 12 to Fashionesque in similar event at Redcar last time. Has left James Bethell, and market should guide on handicap bow/debut for new yard.

Form: 154

(4)

Fairy Stories¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 65| BF| D

9/4

Won a 5f handicap at Nottingham in June from 9lb lower. Ran ok next time, but a bit below form over 6f twice since, and may benefit from the return to this trip, for all she can start slowly.

Form: 8-31244

(3)

Frosted Lass¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: N Mackay| T: T D Barron| OR: 56| D

8/1

Winner at Redcar (5f) in May, and not discredited at Ayr last time, but she was disappointing over 6f here prior to that, and others look to have her measure at present.

Form: 5-31504

Forecasts

Fairy Stories (9/4), Vee Man Ten (5/2), Timetodock (6/1), Melrose Way (7/1), Good Answer (7/1), Frosted Lass (8/1), Scale Force (12/1)

GOOD ANSWER needs to improve on the bare form of his Bath win, but he's going the right way for his patient handler, and the form of that contest has been franked by the runner-up. He is preferred to Vee Man Ten, who is forgiven his last run, and is arguably the pick on his previous second at Ayr. Melrose Way has moved to Paul Midgley ahead of this handicap debut, and is fairly treated on his debut form, so must be noted in the market.