Doubletree By Hilton EBF Fillies' Handicap

Off time: 15:32 | Winning time: 2m 32.71s

(5)

Geetanjali^v⁵^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Cameron Noble⁽³⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 77| C

5/4

Turned out quickly again after defeating Geranium (10-11f) at Sandown (1m2f; good to firm) last week. Now chasing a hat-trick and burden of top-weight is slightly offset by the claim of talented apprentice. Every chance off career-high mark.

Form: 355311

(4)

Last Enchantment^t¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 69

25/1

Well beaten at this level over this trip at Goodwood (1m4f; good to firm) last month, and produced a quiet effort at Chepstow (1m4f; good to firm) the time before that so has questions to answer. Certainly not one to recommend in current form.

Form: 9-47046

(2)

Hope Is High¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Megan Nicholls⁽³⁾| T: John Berry| OR: 67| C

5/1

Hard to knock recent efforts in defeat of late, including when third to highly-progressive rival over slightly further here last month. This is a step up in class, but she didn't disgrace herself in a Class 2 at this track last year.

Form: 5324-53

(1)

Maktabba²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Dane O'Neill| T: W J Haggas| OR: 72| BF| D

2/1

Easily the most unexposed in this field after just the four starts. Fluffed her lines on handicap debut but is surely capable of better after the good level of form she showed in maidens. Has to be worth another chance.

Form: 5-316

(3)

Miss M¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: M Dwyer| T: W R Muir| OR: 63| CD

9/1

Comfortable C&D scorer back in June, but that was in a Class 6 and she is now 5lb higher in a grade she has never been able to threaten in before. Unlikely she will change that fact now.

Form: 154369

Forecasts

Geetanjali (5/4), Maktabba (2/1), Hope Is High (5/1), Miss M (9/1), Last Enchantment (25/1)

Another small-field affair in which Hope Is High is a strong contender for a place after showing a decent level of improvement from her first run of the season to go close over slightly further here last time. The claims of the hat-trick seeking Geetanjali are very tempting. Michael Bell's charge produced a career best when victorious at Sandown last week, which reads well in today's contest. However, the aforementioned filly must concede over a stone to the unexposed MAKTABBA. The selection showed more than enough ability in maidens to suggest she can make her mark at this level and is worth another chance at placing her underwhelming handicap debut well behind her.