Queen Ethelburgas Collegiate Handicap

Off time: 16:16 | Winning time: 2m 2.40s

(1)

Matchless²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: I Furtado| OR: 84| D

5/1

Pair of Doncaster wins in the spring and largely creditable efforts in defeat since. Has dropped to only 1 lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 114330

(5)

Enforced^b1³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 89

7/2

Won a Brighton maiden and Newmarket handicap (both 1m) at the start of the summer. Proved himself at 1m when fourth at Ayr last time and player if finding any extra for first-time blinkers.

Form: 9-41154

(6)

Cosmos Raj²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 82| CD

3/1

Recorded a career best when a ready winner of a C&D handicap (good) 4 weeks ago. His mark has gone up into the 80s for the first time as a result but he's still a dangerous one to discount if showing up here in similar form.

Form: 033261

(3)

Value Theory²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 87

3/1

Had an excuse (ridden too aggressively) when below-form fifth of 10 in classified event at Ascot last time. Claims on his placed efforts in handicaps at Nottingham and Goodwood prior to that.

Form: 765335

(2)

Jewel Maker¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Sean Kirrane⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 79| BF| D

5/1

Latest win at Haydock in August. 18/5, respectable fifth of 13 in handicap at Lingfield 18 days ago. Expected to be bang there under Sean Kirrane.

Form: 315215

(4)

Cubana Habana¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Barry McHugh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82

14/1

Winner of maiden at Hamilton in May. Just as good when second at Thirsk next time but does need to shrug off a poor run on his Lingfield handicap debut (AW) 18 days ago.

Form: 3128

Forecasts

Value Theory (3/1), Cosmos Raj (3/1), Enforced (7/2), Matchless (5/1), Jewel Maker (5/1), Cubana Habana (14/1)

Sean Kirrane is back on board JEWEL MAKER and the pair may combine for a third success of the season. Last-time-out C&D winner Cosmos Raj could be the one to give him most to do ahead of Value Theory.