Smiths News Fillies' Handicap

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 2m 33.75s

(1)

Rozalia²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Benoit D L Sayette⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 70

9/2

Lightly-raced maiden who proved she retains ability on the back of 19 months off when third of 4 in handicap at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 22 days ago, effort 2f out and keeping on. Not discounted if building on that here.

Form: 3328/3

(3)

Deep Sigh²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Callum Shepherd| T: D M Simcock| OR: 68

10/3

Shed maiden tag at Doncaster (1m) in July and ran right up to best when second of 4 in handicap at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 20 days ago, leading over 1f out and headed final 100 yds. Remains unexposed at this trip and she should give another good account.

Form: 64145-2

(2)

Engrave^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Dylan Hogan| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 66

9/1

Kept busy last year, adding another 10f Chelmsford victory to her tally in December. Largely consistent more recently, finding only one very much on an upward curve too strong at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 3 weeks ago.

Form: 5-23462

(5)

Sulochana²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: H Morrison| OR: 64

10/11

Improved to land back-to-back 14f handicaps last spring and held her form well from inflated marks on turf thereafter. Creditable fourth of 11 on return at Salisbury (14f) 4 weeks ago, (collared inside final 1f). Has to be worth a look back down in trip.

Form: 52349-4

(4)

Santa Florentina⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: J F Egan| T: P S McEntee| OR: 58

16/1

Maiden who was again below pick of her AW efforts over the winter when eighth of 10 in handicap at Chelmsford (10f) 42 days ago. Mark has eased a little more but others make greater appeal.

Form: 24-3748

Forecasts

Sulochana (10/11), Deep Sigh (10/3), Rozalia (9/2), Engrave (9/1), Santa Florentina (16/1)

This could well get tactical but SULOCHANA shaped well when fourth on her return over further at Salisbury 4 weeks ago and, with the drop back in trip expected to hold no fears on that evidence, she could be the answer. Deep Sigh rates next best ahead of Rozalia.