18:50 Leicester

Monday 16 May 2022

All16:4517:2017:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:20

Elmhurst Energy Handicap

Off time: 18:50 | Winning time: 2m 9.06s

(7)

Island Bandit^p1¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: R Kingscote| T: H Main| OR: 70

8/1

Excuses when last of 7 in handicap at Lingfield (8f, AW, 10/1) 18 days ago, keeping on when not clear run entering final 1f. Up in trip. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Considered from 3 lb lower mark.

Form: 1677-87

(4)

Night Arc⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 70

9/1

Good third of 11 in handicap at Nottingham (8.3f, good, 22/1) 9 days ago. Will need to build on that to take this.

Form: 32209-3

(2)

Homeric⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Benoit D L Sayette⁽⁷⁾| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 70| D

17/2

Fortunate to be awarded the race at Lingfield on penultimate start but only sixth of 8 on handicap debut (3/1) at Wolverhampton (9.5f) 48 days ago. Remains early days and top apprentice takes off a valuable 7 lb.

Form: 37-16

(8)

Al Azhar¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Jim Crowley| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 69| D

10/11

6/1, went one better than on his sole start in nurseries when winning 9-runner handicap at Goodwood (9.9f, good to firm) 16 days ago, quickening to lead late on. Up just 3 lb and given he scored with a bit up his sleeve, he has to be taken seriously.

Form: 7672-1

(1)

My Boy Jack²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: N Callan| T: Tom Clover| OR: 67

22/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 100/1 and gelded, possibly needed run when eighth of 10 in maiden at Yarmouth (8f, good to firm) 20 days ago. Up in trip. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 50-8

(5)

Aryaah¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Aled Beech⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boughey| OR: 64| D

5/1

15/8, didn't need to improve to win 7-runner handicap at Bath (10.2f, good to firm) 14 days ago, leading under 2f out and always holding on. 4 lb rise to contend with but looks competitive on form.

Form: 6-90341

(6)

Wolf Of Oxshott²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Rhys Clutterbuck⁽³⁾| T: J Parr| OR: 61

14/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 100/1, probably needed run on first run since leaving David Menuisier when eighth of 10 in minor event at Yarmouth (8f, good to firm) 27 days ago. Up in trip. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 70-8

(3)

Secret Service⁶⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: J P Fahy| T: C G Cox| OR: 60

33/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Eighth of 10 in minor event at Lingfield (8f, AW, 66/1) 65 days ago. Up in trip. May do better now handicapping.

Form: 0-88

Forecasts

Al Azhar (10/11), Aryaah (5/1), Island Bandit (8/1), Homeric (17/2), Night Arc (9/1), Wolf Of Oxshott (14/1), My Boy Jack (22/1), Secret Service (33/1)

The progressive AL AZHAR had a bit up his sleeve when making a winning reappearance at Goodwood recently, clearly well at home over this longer trip. Nudged up just 3 lb for that cosy success, he gets the verdict to go in again. Aryaah didn't need to improve to get off the mark at Bath a fortnight ago so he's put forward as the main threat, ahead of Homeric.