Bombardier British-Hopped Amber Beer Handicap

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 1m 38.40s

(5)

De Vegas Kid²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Darragh Keenan⁽³⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 78| D

9/1

Latest win at Wolverhampton in December. 25/1, fourth of 7 in handicap at Chelmsford City (8f) 22 days ago, unable to sustain effort.

Form: 7719-04

(3)

Crackling¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: M Meade| OR: 78| C

10/11

Low-mileage course winner (at 7f) who ran best race yet when just touched off at Southwell (1m) in January. Feasible to think he can do better still if stringing a sequence of runs together.

Form: 1/4-2

(6)

Apex King³²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: D Loughnane| OR: 75| CD

9/2

C&D winner. 3/1, creditable fifth of 10 in handicap at this C&D (AW) 32 days ago, weakening final 100 yds. Mark remains a workable one and no surprise to see a good showing.

Form: 97304-5

(4)

Accomplice⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M Blanshard| OR: 74| CD

6/1

6-time C&D winner. 6/1, career best when winning 7-runner handicap at this C&D (AW) 8 days ago, leading final strides. Handicapper applies a little more pressure but hard to rule out in this groove.

Form: 143-141

(2)

Noble Peace^t¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: George Bass⁽⁵⁾| T: S Pearce| OR: 73| CD

11/2

5-time course winner. 9/1, bounced back to form when winning 8-runner handicap at this course (10f, AW) 10 days ago, all out. Return to 1m will hold no fears but revised mark does demand more.

Form: 30468-1

Non-Runners

(1)

Elmejor²⁸

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: J R Best J: J Mitchell

Forecasts

Crackling (10/11), Apex King (9/2), Noble Peace (11/2), Accomplice (6/1), Elmejor (8/1), De Vegas Kid (9/1)

CRACKLING is a low-mileage 5-y-o who built on his belated reappearance spin when collared close home at Southwell 16 days ago. He may well be up to building on that and earns the vote back at the scene of his 2-y-o debut success. Apex King and Accomplice are a couple of others to consider.