20:15 Leicester

Thursday 23 June 2022

All17:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Ladies' Day Saturday 2nd July Book Now Handicap

Off time: 20:15 | Winning time: 1m 45.33s

(4)

Lightening Gesture¹⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Dylan Hogan| T: Jack Jones| OR: 67

22/1

Creditable third of 7 in handicap (11/2) at Wolverhampton (9.5f). Off 146 days ahead of this debut for new yard and improvement needed if he's to emerge on top here.

Form: 4034-33

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(6)

Superior Council^p1¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: D Nolan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 64

9/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Sixth of 9 in minor event at Doncaster (7f, good to firm, 40/1) 19 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time for this handicap debut and others make more appeal.

Form: 45-6

(3)

Flintstone⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 64

11/4

9/1, sixth of 9 in handicap at Goodwood (9.9f, good to firm) 54 days ago (subsequently gelded). Will be of greater interest when returned to the AW.

Form: 006-236

(5)

Maguro^p⁵⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 63

8/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 25/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, third of 6 in maiden at Pontefract (8f, good) 57 days ago. Needs to improve now pitched into a handicap for the first time.

Form: 763

(7)

Laguna Veneta²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 63

9/4

Lightly-raced maiden. 8/1, good third of 13 in handicap at Windsor (8.1f, good to firm) 24 days ago, better placed than most. Player off the same mark here with William Buick in the hot-seat.

Form: 7-4363

(8)

Punda Maria²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S Donohoe| T: W J Haggas| OR: 62

17/2

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, respectable fourth of 11 in handicap (17/2) at Ripon (12f, good to firm) 29 days ago, well positioned. This drop back in trip looks a good move and she's an each-way contender.

Form: 6-62534

(2)

Cobra Kai⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Harrison Shaw| T: B Haslam| OR: 51| D

4/1

Career best when winning 7-runner handicap at Ripon (8f, good to firm, 15/8) 7 days ago, impressively. Will prove a tough nut to crack under a penalty if in the same form here.

Form: 0-43231

(1)

Caramello³²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Callum Hutchinson⁽⁵⁾| T: J L Spearing| OR: 51

50/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Eighth of 12 in handicap at Nottingham (8.3f, good, 40/1) 32 days ago. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: 60-98

Forecasts

Laguna Veneta (9/4), Flintstone (11/4), Cobra Kai (4/1), Maguro (8/1), Punda Maria (17/2), Superior Council (9/1), Lightening Gesture (22/1), Caramello (50/1)

This race revolves around COBRA KAI, who opened his account in good style at Ripon last week and it's unlikely that a 6 lb penalty will be enough to prevent him from striking again. Laguna Veneta put in a good shift at Windsor last time and shades preference ahead of Punda Maria for forecast purposes.