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Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 1m 35.24s

(1)

Darvel¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Rhys Clutterbuck⁽³⁾| T: P R Chamings| OR: 76| D

9/4

11/1, better than ever when won 14-runner handicap at Chepstow (8.1f, good to firm) 17 days ago, having positional advantage. Likely to face competition up front.

Form: 6378-61

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(4)

Covert Mission^t²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Harry Burns⁽⁵⁾| T: K P De Foy| OR: 72| D

5/2

3 wins from 5 runs this year. 13/8, career best when winning 7-runner handicap at Lingfield (8f, AW) 29 days ago, all out. Likeable sort who boasts solid claims once more.

Form: 5-12121

(2)

Poetic Force¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Watson| T: A W Carroll| OR: 69| D

2/1

Latest win at Lingfield in February. Second of 8 in handicap (16/1) at this C&D (good) 10 days ago, nearest finish. Might have the race teed up for him, so worth chancing to go one better.

Form: 4-15422

(3)

Granary Queen¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 67| C| D

5/1

Temperamental sort. Course winner. 1 win from 3 runs this year. 13/2, below form 7¾ lengths seventh of 14 to Darvel in handicap at Chepstow (8.1f, good to firm) 17 days ago. Type to bounce back quickly.

Form: 342-137

Forecasts

Poetic Force (2/1), Darvel (9/4), Covert Mission (5/2), Granary Queen (5/1)

POETIC FORCE was strong at the finish when second over C&D last time and his main rivals, Covert Mission and Darvel, might take each other on at the head of affairs, so the first-named is worth chancing in a tightly-knit contest.