Wells Memorial Challenge Trophy Handicap

Off time: 19:40 | Winning time: 1m 10.34s

(1)

Khanjar²⁸⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Dane O'Neill| T: W J Haggas| OR: 85| D

10/3

Found improvement at the second attempt though made to work quite hard when winning 8-runner minor event at Ascot (6f, good to firm, 5/4). Makes handicap debut after 9 months off the track (gelded in interim) and in top hands, a market check is advised.

Form: 471-

(5)

Azure Blue⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 77| D

6/5

Confirmed reappearance promise and showed improved form when impressively winning 8-runner handicap at Hamilton (6f, good, 5/2) 7 days ago. In the right hands for a progressive sprinter and likely to be hard to beat here turned out under a penalty.

Form: 3221-51

(4)

Bond Power³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Harrison Shaw| T: B Smart| OR: 80

18/1

Improved for being gelded when getting on top late in the day on nursery debut at Beverley (5f) in August but has failed to kick on both starts since, latest on reappearance at York last month. That should've at the very least blown away any cobwebs.

Form: 23410-9

(6)

Mattice^p¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Sean Kirrane⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 79| D

5/1

Failed to cut much ice in handicaps (competitive York events) but quickly back on track returned to maiden company when winning 10-runner event at Redcar (6f, good) 13 days ago. Back in a handicap today and this smaller-field scenario should be in his favour.

Form: 6-43001

(3)

Gnat Alley¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 72| BF| D

6/1

Made a winning return at Thirsk last month and bounced back from a lesser effort when second of 5 at Catterick (7f, good) 12 days ago. Expected to run her race again but likely to find a couple too strong.

Form: 441-102

(2)

Dora Penny¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Cam Hardie| T: P D Evans| OR: 68| D

22/1

Bounced back to form when third of 8 in handicap at Leicester (6f, good to soft, 10/1) 15 days ago, faring best of those ridden prominently but unable to land a blow on front pair. More needed in Class 3 company.

Form: 4-53893

Forecasts

Azure Blue (6/5), Khanjar (10/3), Mattice (5/1), Gnat Alley (6/1), Bond Power (18/1), Dora Penny (22/1)

AZURE BLUE displayed an electric turn of foot to open her account in handicaps at Hamilton last week and, wisely turned out under a penalty, Michael Dods's progressive sprinter is fancied to go in again with further progress on the cards. The main danger could be Khanjar, who was made to work quite hard to get off the mark at Ascot when last seen back in September but is fancied to kick on now moving into handicaps. Mattice looks best of the rest.