Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 56.9s

(6)

Watchable^p⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 9-7| J: S A Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| CD

11/2

Dual course winner who has won three times this winter (inc C&D); yet to win from a mark this high and that has to be a concern at the age of 10 but he's in good form at present and ought to give another good account.

Form: 11-6713

(5)

Royal Birth^t⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Marco Ghiani⁽⁵⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 100| CD

9/4

Three-time C&D winner including the last two renewals of this race and was only narrowly denied by a progressive sort in a C&D Listed race here last week; this rider well worth his 5lb claim and ought to be therebaouts.

Form: 26-2732

(3)

Top Breeze²¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 90| D

7/4

Won three of his first four starts (inc two AW) but looked in the handicapper's grip towards the end of the turf season; has a sizable absence to overcome on his return here but yard are flying in recent weeks and he may appreciate a return to AW.

Form: 115296-

(2)

Alsvinder¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: S De Sousa| T: P A Kirby| OR: 87| C| D

14/1

Dual course winner who looks well-handicapped on his best form from last year but failed to build on a promising run at Chelmsford when last of seven at Newcastle last week; not ruled out with De Sousa taking over.

Form: 028-637

(1)

Thegreatestshowman¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: George Rooke⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 85| CD

7/1

C&D winner here in November and back on his last winning mark following a pair of below par efforts but seems to struggle when stepped up to this class; drops back in trip after a disappointing effort at Kempton last time.

Form: 2145-46

(4)

Verne Castle^b,h⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-6| J: Hollie Doyle| T: M Wigham| OR: 85| CD

7/1

Gained a first win since 2018 at Chelmsford earlier this month but pulled too hard in a followup bid last week; historically goes well at this venue but will need to settle better to have a chance here.

Form: 97-3214

Forecasts

Top Breeze (7/4), Royal Birth (9/4), Watchable (11/2), Verne Castle (7/1), Thegreatestshowman (7/1), Alsvinder (14/1)

ROYAL BIRTH has won two of the last four renewals of this race and he's taken to gain compensation for a narrow defeat in Listed company here last time. Alsvinder is a threat to his chance with Silvestre De Sousa taking over in the saddle and Top Breeze could be well suited to a return to all-weather.