P J Towey Construction Ltd Handicap (Str)

Off time: 16:46 | Winning time: 1m 30.42s

(1)

Qaysar⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 104| D

13/8

Rock-solid career strike-rate (6-15); effective over both 7f and 1m; slips back into a handicap (off an elevated mark) after winning the Gordon Lord Byron Conditions Stakes at Haydock (7f, soft) last week; the standout form horse.

Form: 421161

(5)

Baltic Baron^t1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 98| D

5/2

Has rattled the crossbar on various occasions this season, but still has just the sole Chantilly maiden (1m, good) success on his CV; connections have tinkered with various pieces of equipment of late, and today it is the turn of a tongue-tie.

Form: 229250

(4)

Bayroot⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 97

11/8

Placed in the Listed Burradon Stakes at Newcastle (1m) in April and hasn't done a great deal wrong since (without progressing); it's still relatively early days in handicap company and there could be better to come.

Form: 1-3237

Non-Runners

(3)

So Beloved¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 9

T: D O'Meara J: G Mosse

(2)

Victory Command¹⁴

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: C & M Johnston J: F Norton

Forecasts

Bayroot (11/8), Qaysar (13/8), Baltic Baron (5/2), Victory Command (4/1), So Beloved (10/1)

Qaysar made a seamless transition into stronger company at Haydock last week and could simply be a much better horse than a handicapper nowadays. However, off top-weight his task isn't straightforward, so with other viable alternatives he can just about be opposed. With handicapping still a relatively new discipline for the three-year-old Bayroot (hasn't fully got his act together yet), a preference is for the Mark Johnston-trained VICTORY COMMAND. On today's forecast fast ground, the suspicion is that this previous course winner (novice) should relish dropping back in trip (to 1m).