19:10 Salisbury

Friday 19 August 2022

All16:5217:2718:0018:3519:1019:45

Draintech Tankers Handicap

Off time: 19:11 | Winning time: 1m 43.32s

(5)

Stevenson¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: George Bass⁽⁵⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 77| D

8/1

Lightly-raced winner. Successful at Kempton in March. Last of 5 in handicap at Sandown (10f, good, 18/1) 15 days ago, hampered. Down 3 lb, but looks vulnerable all the same.

Form: 31355

(1)

Liangel Hope^p¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Mollie Phillips⁽⁵⁾| T: C Mason| OR: 74

9/2

Three wins from 10 runs this year. First run since leaving David O'Meara when landing a 6-runner handicap (10/1) at Haydock (7.2f, good) 13 days ago. More needed up 3 lb, but he's a player nonetheless.

Form: 234511

(2)

Nine Dragons^t¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: James Doyle| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 72| BF

9/5

Lightly-raced maiden. Creditable fifth of 10 in handicap at Haydock (8.2f, good, 11/4) 13 days ago. Now 1 lb lower in a lower-grade handicap and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 0825

(7)

Tricky Business³³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: K T O'Neill| T: W S Kittow| OR: 70

40/1

Lightly-raced winner. Visored for 1st time, last of 5 in nursery at Catterick (7f, good to firm, 7/1). Off 11 months ahead of this debut for new yard and he's entitled to come on for the run.

Form: 43155-

(8)

Stubble Field^p1²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: S Pearce| OR: 68

7/1

9/1, good third of 8 in handicap at Newmarket (8f, good) 28 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time and she has to be taken seriously here off a 1 lb lower mark.

Form: 52-3873

(3)

Shabano²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: George Downing| T: E Walker| OR: 68

10/1

10/1, fourth of 5 in handicap at Newbury (10f, good to firm) 29 days ago. Drop back in trip could be a good move, but will need to find improvement from somewhere if he's to feature prominently in this contest.

Form: 6524-74

(6)

Codify⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Fahy| T: C G Cox| OR: 68

7/2

5/1, respectable seventh of 13 in handicap at Newbury (8f, good) 50 days ago. Eased 2 lb and possibilities judged on effort over the same C&D on penultimate start.

Form: 443-837

(4)

Dark Island Star^b1,h¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Gina Mangan⁽⁵⁾| T: H Main| OR: 60

50/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Hooded for 1st time, fourth of 7 in maiden at Ffos Las (7.4f, heavy, 25/1) 17 days ago, merely passing beaten rivals. Blinkers on 1st time for this handicap debut.

Form: 604

Result Amended

Nine Dragons - Original Position 2nd. Amended Position 3rd.

Codify - Original Position 3rd. Amended Position 2nd.

Forecasts

Nine Dragons (9/5), Codify (7/2), Liangel Hope (9/2), Stubble Field (7/1), Stevenson (8/1), Shabano (10/1), Tricky Business (40/1), Dark Island Star (50/1)

STUBBLE FIELD showed plenty of ability in three starts as a juvenile and took a step back in the right direction when third at Newmarket last month. The addition of cheekpieces may help eke out a little more and she gets the nod ahead of Nine Dragons, who failed to improve on his recent handicap bow at Haydock but is now eased in grade. Codify and the hat-trick seeking Liangel Hope are other viable options.