19:50 Epsom Downs

Thursday 15 July 2021

All18:1018:4519:2019:5020:2020:50

Stew Pond Handicap

Off time: 19:51 | Winning time: 2m 13.43s

(7)

Miss Mulligan²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Callum Shepherd| T: George Scott| OR: 79

7/1

Respectable ninth of 18 in handicap at Royal Ascot (8f, firm, 50/1) 29 days ago. This is easier and the step back up in trip will help, so not discounted.

Form: 3-32439

(1)

Bad Company¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Charlie Bennett| T: J R Boyle| OR: 76| D

11/2

7/2, creditable 2¾ lengths fifth of 9 to Thorn in handicap at this C&D (good to soft) 14 days ago. Might have the run of things from the front, so he's entitled to respect.

Form: 111-245

(4)

Knowing⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Hayley Turner| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 75| CD

7/1

C&D winner. 13/2, last of 10 in handicap at Haydock (10.4f, heavy) 55 days ago. Bit to prove on the back of that.

Form: 87333-0

(5)

Leroy Leroy¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: J Mitchell| T: J R Boyle| OR: 74| D

13/2

Latest win at Doncaster in March. 6/1, good 1½ lengths second of 9 to Thorn in handicap at this C&D (good to soft) 14 days ago, missing break. Remains fairly treated but he's not straightforward.

Form: 129562

(2)

Thorn^h¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Aled Beech⁽⁵⁾| T: J Gallagher| OR: 70| CD

4/1

11/2, career best when winning 9-runner handicap at this C&D (good to soft) 14 days ago by 1½ lengths from Leroy Leroy, bit in hand. Something to find on form.

Form: 7-61301

(9)

Pure Bubbles²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Rhys Clutterbuck⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 79

18/5

Promising type. Good fourth of 8 in handicap (25/1) at Newmarket (10f, good to soft) 27 days ago. Remain with potential for shrewd connections, so he's very much one to consider.

Form: 68-434

(6)

Gold Souk^p,t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Joshua Bryan| T: D Steele| OR: 65| C| D

16/1

Course winner. Latest win at Lingfield in May. 8/1, creditable 2½ lengths third of 9 to Thorn in handicap at this C&D (good to soft) 14 days ago. Likely to give another good account.

Form: 415523

(3)

Dolphin Vista^v¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: P Cosgrave| T: J R Boyle| OR: 64| D

11/1

Fifteen runs since last win in 2019. 7/1 and visored for 1st time, third of 5 in handicap at Windsor (10f, good to firm) 18 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 2-87643

(8)

Ivynator²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Louis Steward| T: C Fellowes| OR: 72

16/1

8/1, seventh of 11 in handicap at Newmarket (8f, good to soft) 27 days ago. Back up in trip. Better on AW based on current evidence.

Form: 21-0477

Forecasts

Pure Bubbles (18/5), Thorn (4/1), Bad Company (11/2), Leroy Leroy (13/2), Miss Mulligan (7/1), Knowing (7/1), Dolphin Vista (11/1), Gold Souk (16/1), Ivynator (16/1)

PURE BUBBLES is the least exposed and performed with credit in a stronger race than this at Newmarket last time, so he gets the marginal vote in a tightly-knit affair. Thorn and Leroy Leroy, who filled the first two positions over C&D last time, should also come into the reckoning.