17:35 Epsom Downs

Monday 29 August 2022

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Garden Cider Medal Handicap

Off time: 17:35 | Winning time: 1m 24.14s

(4)

Marlay Park²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: P Cosgrave| T: J R Boyle| OR: 79| CD

7/1

Opened his account for the season when getting up late in the piece over C&D last month. Below that level at Sandown since but better expected here.

Form: 854215

(1)

Brazen Bolt²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 78| D

7/2

Admirable sort who is enjoying another productive campaign, adding to his tally in cosy fashion at Ayr (7.2f) last month. Just as good in defeat twice since and likely to make presence felt.

Form: 220134

(6)

Flame of Freedom¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 77| CD

8/1

Won this event last year off 2 lb lower and arrives on back of creditable third of 8 at Kempton (7f) 13 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 694303

(7)

Mercurius Power^t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 77| C

9/1

Course winner who got back on scoreboard at Sandown (8f) last month. Below par more recently, however, and makes limited appeal.

Form: 251279

(9)

G'daay^b,h¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: J Mitchell| T: J Parr| OR: 77| D

8/1

Scored for second time this term when narrowly taking 5-runner handicap at Yarmouth (7f, good to firm) 19 days ago. 2 lb rise fair and ought to go well again.

Form: 341291

(3)

King Of Jungle^b³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 82

11/2

Dual winner and back to form when edged out by a thriving rival with more experience at Windsor (6.1f) last month. Not seen to best effect at Newmarket since and looks worth a try at this longer trip.

Form: 461427

(2)

Concierge²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: N Callan| T: M J Attwater| OR: 75

8/1

Solid start to the campaign when hitting frame in trio of 6f handicaps but hasn't been in same form more recently and returns to longer trip now.

Form: 243449

(8)

Profound Alexander^b²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: P J McDonald| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 73| D

22/1

Off the mark, in first-time blinkers, when taking 7-runner maiden at Ffos Las (7.4f, heavy) 15 days ago, forging clear. More needed back in handicap company here, though.

Form: 625-241

(10)

Absolute Dream¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 68| D

14/1

Posted season's best when winning 11-runner handicap at Catterick (7f, good to firm) 14 days ago, suited by strong pace. 7 lb higher now but must enter calculations.

Form: 013501

(5)

Kimifive^h¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Cieren Fallon| T: Ian Williams| OR: 66| D

13/2

Continues to fall in the weights without showing any sign of taking advantage, including when ninth at Wolverhampton on debut for new connections earlier this month.

Form: 546679

Forecasts

Brazen Bolt (7/2), King Of Jungle (11/2), Kimifive (13/2), Marlay Park (7/1), Flame of Freedom (8/1), G'daay (8/1), Concierge (8/1), Mercurius Power (9/1), Absolute Dream (14/1), Profound Alexander (22/1)

Preference is for last year's winner FLAME OF FREEDOM, who ran well at Kempton last time and is on a workable mark. Marlay Park and Absolute Dream head the list of dangers.