Ladbrokes Handicap

Off time: 19:06 | Winning time: 3m 29.15s

(5)

Fayetta^b¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: T E Whelan| T: D Loughnane| OR: 69

20/1

Hard to make a convincing case for given the form she is in at present. Still a maiden after 15 starts and has to give weight away to a pair of potentially very well-handicapped sorts.

Form: 426295

(4)

Blame It On Sally^v1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Ryan Tate| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 65| BF

7/4

One of a few in here stepping up to this trip for the first time, and he is likely to benefit for it. However, he was a massively underwhelming favourite (4/7f) at Bath (1m6f; good to firm) recently. Could bounce back & too early to write off.

Form: 878-123

(1)

Whistler Bowl⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: H Crouch| T: G & J Moore| OR: 64

5/6

Unexposed and very unlucky to bump into the extremely well-handicapped Land Of Oz on step up to 1m6f last time. Step up to 2m shouldn't cause any problems as he smacked of a strong stayer then. Major player.

Form: 087-142

(2)

Sea Art^v³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: P J Dobbs| T: W J Knight| OR: 63

9/1

First attempt at 2m for him, and it should suit given how he became outpaced at a crucial point in the race when only sixth at Windsor (1m3f; good to firm) last time. This also represents a slight step up in class.

Form: 745266

(3)

Vin D'Honneur^p²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: David Probert| T: S C Williams| OR: 56

16/1

Never won over further than 1m2f, and there were worrying signs last time when she stepped back up to 1m4f and was beaten at the 1f pole. Now steps up to 2m for the first time and will need to be held-up if she is to have any chance.

Form: 712057

Forecasts

Whistler Bowl (5/6), Blame It On Sally (7/4), Sea Art (9/1), Vin D'Honneur (16/1), Fayetta (20/1)

All of these are stepping up to 2m for the first time and are open to improvement, but this looks to concern the lightly raced pair of Blame It On Sally & WHISTLER BOWL. The former represents a yard who excel with staying types in this sphere, and he is entitled to return to form after a surprising defeat recently with the step up in trip in his favour. However, the latter is narrowly preferred after she ran a stablemate of his very close at Salisbury last time and is only 2lb higher for that eye-catching effort. She is 0-15, but Fayetta has proved she is capable of running a big race in the past with bits and pieces of decent form, and she can prove best of the rest.