15:35 Epsom Downs

Tuesday 25 April 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Betfred Nifty Fifty Great Metropolitan Handicap

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 2m 54.83s

(5)

Sir Rumi¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: W Buick| T: R Hannon| OR: 90| D

11/2

Tasted success only once last year but proved most reliable and returned from 5 months off with good second at Doncaster (10.2f) 23 days ago. Failed to threaten at Kempton since but better showing anticipated back on turf.

Form: 4152-20

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(13)

Flyin' Solo²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Rossa Ryan| T: D Menuisier| OR: 87| D

10/3

Low-mileage 6-y-o who is evidently not the easiest to train but didn't shape too badly returning from 11 months off when sixth in 10-runner handicap at Doncaster (10.2f) 23 days ago. Possible he can build on that provided he stands more regular racing.

Form: 1437/2-6

(7)

Haseefah¹⁷⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A King| OR: 86| D

15/2

Hit the ground running with back-to-back victories at 1m 4f last May prior to hitting the frame next 2 starts. Below best on final start at Newmarket (12f) in October but returns with yard in good form and she's no forlorn hope.

Form: 2/11238-

(9)

Tashi¹⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: T Ward| OR: 86| D

14/1

Just the one win from 21 starts for Sheila Lavery in Ireland and she ran below her best when eighteenth in 20-runner Naas handicap (2m) in final start in November. Interesting to see if yard switch has positive effect here (acquired for 30,000 gns later that month).

Form: 584090-

(14)

Open Champion²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: A King| OR: 84| D

11/1

Fairly useful winner for Roger Varian last term. Fell on yard/hurdles debut in February but shaped much better than bare result back on Flat when sixth at Kempton (11f) 24 days ago. Remains relatively unexposed and he's one to be interested in.

Form: 02165-6

(4)

State Legend⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Sanderson⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 83| D

100/1

Successful 3 times at up to 12f last year for James Ferguson. Offered only a modicum of promise over hurdles for new yard since the turn of the year and he needs to do a little more to defy this mark back on the Flat.

Form: 51493-7

(3)

Neandra²⁰⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 83| D

11/4

Drew clear impressively when making a winning handicap debut at Lingfield (12f, AW) in July and shaped well for a long way when midfield in a deep handicap over extended 13f at York in October. This sort of mark within reach on that evidence and interesting on return/down in trip.

Form: 3/13186-

(1)

Madame Ambassador^p¹⁸⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: C Johnston| OR: 82| D

11/1

Showed fine attitude when winning 4-runner handicap at Newmarket in August and matched that form when adding to that on the Rowley course in October. Not disgraced faced with testing ground when fourth at Doncaster (11.9f) final start but present mark does demand a little more.

Form: 361314-

(2)

Saligo Bay²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Jason Watson| T: G & J Moore| OR: 77| D

15/2

Ran well back from 5 months off when third at Windsor (10f) in October and added to his tally over hurdles at Lingfield (2m) in November. Revised mark halted any further progress in that sphere but he returns to the Flat with his yard continuing amongst the winners.

Form: 31256/3-

(10)

The Conqueror¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Mohammed Tabti⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Boyle| OR: 77

14/1

Fairly useful handicapper who added to his tally over 10f at Baden Baden for Andreas Wohler last summer. Entitled to come on for his return/yard debut effort at Wolverhampton (9.5f) 15 days ago and yard enjoy plenty of success at this venue.

Form: 21455-4

Non-Runners

(8)

Dark Pine⁷¹

Weight: 9-9| Age: 6

T: D Loughnane J: David Egan

(6)

Captain Kane⁵⁹

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: George Scott J: Benoit D L Sayette

(11)

Wonder Starelzaam⁴⁸

Weight: 8-13| Age: 5

T: D J Coakley J: George Bass

(12)

Alpine Stroll¹⁸

Weight: 8-8| Age: 5

T: E De Giles J: T E Whelan

Forecasts

Neandra (11/4), Flyin' Solo (10/3), Sir Rumi (11/2), Wonder Starelzaam (13/2), Saligo Bay (15/2), Haseefah (15/2), Madame Ambassador (11/1), Open Champion (11/1), Alpine Stroll (12/1), Captain Kane (12/1), Tashi (14/1), The Conqueror (14/1), Dark Pine (16/1), State Legend (100/1)

A dual winner on all-weather last year, NEANDRA shaped better than the distance beaten suggests when finishing midfield in a stronger race over further at York in October and, from what rates a workable mark, she earns the vote to come out on top returned to action. Kempton eye-catcher Open Champion similarly remains low-mileage and he's feared, along with Lingfield-scorer Wonder Starelzaam and Sir Rumi.