Bombardier British Hopped Amber Beer Handicap

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 1m 42.28s

(3)

Charlie Arthur¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Finley Marsh⁽³⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 71| CD

5/2

Stuck his head out in brave fashion to score here a fortnight ago, has gone up 3lb for that but races in the same grace and given that run came off a break, there's a chance he may improve again; looks one of the main players.

Form: 01221-1

(4)

Mister Music⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 9-9| J: Elisha Whittington⁽⁷⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 71| CD

3/1

Denied by the narrowest of margins here on Saturday night, and connections quick to bring him out whilst he's on the same mark; deserves a win and every chance of getting it if he gets a solid pace to aim at.

Form: 65-7322

(6)

Kentuckyconnection²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: D C Costello| T: B Smart| OR: 69

10/1

Winner over 7f at Newcastle last Nvember but two efforts since then nowhere near as good, and he's still 4lb higher than that win; yet to race on this surface and not guaranteed to get the trip either, so others readily preferred.

Form: 56016-6

(1)

Zodiakos¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 67| CD

20/1

Looking on a very dangerous mark these days, fifth behind Charlie Arthur here last time but that was his first run for almost five months and he may have needed it; expect him to get a lot closer this time.

Form: 18050-5

(2)

Noble Account^p¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Charlie Bennett| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 63

8/1

Yet to get on the scoresheet after nine starts but has been in the firing line last two starts and almost made it home in front at Wolverhampton last time, caught late on; acts on this surface and might get his own way in front today.

Form: 4734-43

(5)

The Eagle's Nest^t⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: George Rooke⁽⁵⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 58| BF| CD

2/1

Looked like completing a hat-trick of wins here on Saturday night when kicking clear in the straight but was caught in the shadow of the post; on the same mark here but this is a harder race, and he may need a bit more.

Form: 76-7112

Forecasts

The Eagle's Nest (2/1), Charlie Arthur (5/2), Mister Music (3/1), Noble Account (8/1), Kentuckyconnection (10/1), Zodiakos (20/1)

Hard to rule many, if any, of these out and it has the look of a tricky contest that could be made trickier still by the lack of a front runner. Charlie Arthur looks the most likely for the role and will take some catching if repeating his latest run, but ZODIAKOS ran well to a point in that race until weakening late, and he may well have needed that run, his first since September. He looks on a winnable mark and may reverse the form. Mister Music ran a cracker on Saturday night and a repeat surely takes him close, and both The Eagle's Nest and Noble Account can have solid cases made for them.