15:40 Nottingham

Friday 16 August 2019

All14:0014:3515:0515:4016:1016:4517:20

MansionBet Fillies' Handicap

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 1m 52.31s

(4)

Eula Varner¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Jim Crowley| T: H Candy| OR: 76

7/1

Admirably consistent mare who is still lightly raced for a five-year-old. Solid force in handicaps so far this season, and she should remain competitive off an unchanged mark for finishing third at Newmarket (1m; good to firm) most recently.

Form: 3/31-423

(5)

Romola^v1⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 81

10/1

Not improved as one would have expected for the switch to the handicap sphere this season. Rather underwhelming the last twice, and first-time visor needs to have a positive effect. Unraced on soft ground.

Form: 21-6363

(6)

Kimblewick^p1³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: N Mackay| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 80| D

12/1

Proved a major disappointment since winning a Kempton maiden on the AW in November. Never looked dangerous when sixth in this grade over C&D last month, and is hard to enthuse over until showing more.

Form: 1-2806

(9)

Queen Penn²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D Nolan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 73

8/1

Below-par the last twice on faster ground, but she did finish a respectable second to Eponina at Chester (7f; soft) in similar conditions to what are forecast. Vulnerable to improvers but holds place claims nonetheless.

Form: 453244

(8)

Polyphony^h³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Hart| T: J Mackie| OR: 73| BF

3/1

Reappearance win at Ayr (7f; good to firm) has been followed up by a trio of solid runner-up efforts, the latest of those coming over C&D where she was only beaten a neck. Never finished out of the first two in her last six starts.

Form: 12-1222

(7)

Classic Charm¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Joey Haynes| T: D K Ivory| OR: 72| CD

9/4

Dual C&D winner on soft this term, and she made the latest of those victories a procession when winning by seven-length. Been raised 12lb in the weights, but evidently in great nick and can't be ruled out at this venue in these conditions.

Form: 391021

(1)

Geizy Teizy²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M Botti| OR: 76| BF

16/1

Underwhelming on handicap debut when fancied (11-4f) at Windsor (1m2f; good to firm). Back in trip, and she has to be worth another chance. Does have to prove herself if the ground is 'soft' though (only ever ran on AW/good to firm).

Form: 4-146

(3)

Material Girl^v¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Megan Nicholls⁽³⁾| T: R Spencer| OR: 73

8/1

Posted a fine run when third at Epsom (7f: good) in this grade at the start of the month, and went close in extreme conditions when runner-up at Haydock (7f; heavy) in June. Only run over this trip does raise some cause for concern though.

Form: 416243

Non-Runners

(2)

Eponina⁴

Weight: 8-12| Age: 5

T: M Appleby J: R Ffrench

Forecasts

Classic Charm (9/4), Polyphony (3/1), Eula Varner (7/1), Queen Penn (8/1), Material Girl (8/1), Romola (10/1), Kimblewick (12/1), Geizy Teizy (16/1), Eponina (20/1)

This is quite a good quality fillies handicap. Despite not improving for the switch to handicaps as many thought she would, Romola must still be respected for her master trainer who will surely be able to coaxe a win out of her before the season is out. It is interesting that connections have opted to use a first-time visor on this daughter of Pivotal too. Both Eula Varner and Polyphony are tremendously consistent sorts and should be bang there once more, but it is hard to get away from CLASSIC CHARM who bolted up in these conditions when making it 2-2 over C&D last time and a hat-trick of course wins looks a real possibility for this daughter of Rip Van Winkle.