16:35 Epsom Downs

Tuesday 31 August 2021

All13:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:05

John Benstead Handicap

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 2m 8.24s

(3)

Fascinating Shadow²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 72

7/1

Fair maiden who got back on the up on handicap bow when second of 6 at Brighton (9.9f, good) 26 days ago. Much respected off an unchanged mark.

Form: 3502

(9)

Mirage Mac^p²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Oisin Murphy| T: G Boughey| OR: 72

15/2

Three-time juvenile winner but he arrives below form, third of 6 in handicap at Yarmouth (10.1f, good) 20 days ago. Cheekpieces back on with more needed.

Form: 325063

(6)

Arenas Del Tiempo²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Hollie Doyle| T: S Dow| OR: 71| D

5/2

Dual 10f winner in the summer, latest at Sandown, but only sixth of 7 in handicap there 26 days ago, doing too much too soon. Needs to get back on track.

Form: 020116

(2)

Dolphin Vista^v⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: P Cosgrave| T: J R Boyle| OR: 64| D

9/2

It's now sixteen runs since his last win in 2019, but he posted creditable third of 9 in handicap over C&D 47 days ago, finishing well. Enters calculations off the same mark here.

Form: 876433

(7)

Hackbridge^v¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Charlie Bennett| T: P Phelan| OR: 63| D

16/1

Winless since 2018 but he arrives in good nick, second of 10 in handicap at Lingfield (12f, AW) 15 days ago when left poorly placed. In the shake-up.

Form: 0/860-52

(4)

Titaneasy¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Rhys Clutterbuck⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Bridger| OR: 62

50/1

Thrice-raced maiden on Flat. 50/1, fifth of 10 in minor event at Salisbury (7f, good) 19 days ago. Significantly up in trip for handicap debut but others look better treated.

Form: 465

(8)

Appreciate¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: N Callan| T: Tom Clover| OR: 68

33/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 10/1, last of 8 on handicap bow at Bath (10.2f, good to firm) 13 days ago, so others are much preferred.

Form: 4-598

(5)

Classy Dame¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Eddery| OR: 66| D

11/1

Bagged her third win of 2021 at Leicester in June but below form since, fifth of 9 in handicap at Newmarket (10f) 18 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 401545

(10)

Uncle Dick^p³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 65

9/2

Scored at Wolverhampton in January and has continued in good heart, cheekpieces on when third of 5 at Sandown (8f, heavy) 34 days ago. Weighted to go close now eased 2 lb.

Form: 333343

(1)

Pentimento^p1²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: J R Best| OR: 56| BF

9/1

Remains a maiden after 16 runs but he recorded creditable third of 9 in 7f handicap at Brighton 27 days ago, nearest finish. Back up in trip with cheekpieces tried and not dismissed.

Form: 8497-23

Forecasts

Arenas Del Tiempo (5/2), Dolphin Vista (9/2), Uncle Dick (9/2), Fascinating Shadow (7/1), Mirage Mac (15/2), Pentimento (9/1), Classy Dame (11/1), Hackbridge (16/1), Appreciate (33/1), Titaneasy (50/1)

UNCLE DICK is proving a reliable sort and he can gain a second success of 2021 now the official assessor has relented after his recent Sandown third. Dolphin Vista is on a long losing run but commands respect on the back of his C&D third, with Hackbridge another bidding to arrest a winless sequence who merits consideration.