Bombardier 'March To Your Own Drum' Handicap

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 1m 35.40s

(1)

Habub²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 108| C| D

4/1

6f novice winner here last spring and progressed since in handicaps winning at Chelmsford over 7f/1m; found things happening too quickly in 6f Listed race here recently but should bounce back now.

Form: 71721-5

(6)

Arcanada^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 103| CD

5/1

Three-time C&D winner in the past; likes to make running and has been known to throw in the towel on occasions. Picked off recently in Wolverhampton conditions event, should be sharper for that outing.

Form: 20437-3

(3)

Goring¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 98| CD

8/1

Five-time course winner (four over this trip); knocking on the door in small fields since the turn of the year in three starts and should give another solid account. Now back on previous win-mark.

Form: 9302-24

(5)

Zhui Feng¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: M Dwyer| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 94| D

16/1

Only three AW starts in his career but wasn't beaten far in Winter Derby on this card in 2017; Listed turf winner travelled menacingly here a fortnight ago after a break and could well build on that run.

Form: 02360-6

(2)

Almufti^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: J Mitchell| T: H Palmer| OR: 91| CD

5/4

Had a few of these behind when swooping late to score over C&D a fortnight ago after being forced to wait for the gaps (slow pace helped). Races from 4lb higher mark now and leading player once more.

Form: 6601-51

(4)

Spirit Warning¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 89| C| D

5/1

Going as well as anything over C&D 14 days ago in home straight in race won by Almufti before seemingly tiring on first run for 147 days (beaten 1½L). Now gets weight from re-opposing winner and big player with Andrew Balding's horses flying.

Form: 32107-5

Forecasts

Almufti (5/4), Habub (4/1), Spirit Warning (5/1), Arcanada (5/1), Goring (8/1), Zhui Feng (16/1)

Arcanada will be sharper for the recent run around Wolverhampton and it would be dangerous for the others to cede him too much rope, while Habub should be much more at home over this trip than he was in a 6f Listed race here last time. Almufti bested a few of these when scoring over C&D a fortnight ago despite having to bide his time for the gaps to appear but perhaps the one to take from that race was SPIRIT WARNING. He travelled nicely into contention before seemingly failing to hit top gear on his first outing since September. He's match-fit now and can have strong claims for a yard that are flying.