17:13 Beverley

Monday 1 May 2023

All14:1814:5315:2816:0316:3817:1317:48

Brian Dixon Memorial Handicap

Off time: 17:13 | Winning time: 1m 49.70s

(2)

Cubana Habana^p1¹⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 76| D

10/3

Improved on promising debut effort when landing 6-runner Hamilton maiden (8.3f) 12 months ago. Exploits mixed in handicaps at up to 12f thereafter but bounce back not ruled out on return from career low mark/back down markedly in trip. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 128540-

(1)

Intervention^h²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Theodore Ladd| T: M Appleby| OR: 76

14/1

Seven wins from 25 runs last year. 22/1, eighth of 12 in handicap at Southwell (8.1f) 25 days ago, proving too free. Not out of things from this sort of mark for all his very best efforts for this yard have come at sprint trips.

Form: 452678

(4)

Nasim⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Watson| T: M Appleby| OR: 74| D

12/1

Capitalised on ease in class when ending losing run at Chelmsford (1m) in February. Creditable fourth turned out quickly under a penalty back at that venue (10f) next time and whilst he disappointed latest, bounce back not ruled out returned to turf back from 54 days off.

Form: 8-75148

(7)

Asdaa^p³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 71| D

22/1

Winner at Pontefract (1m) last summer and successful 3 times on AW during the winter. Arrives here fit from a creditable third in 7-runner handicap at Newcastle (1m) in March and he's operating from last winning mark.

Form: 754483

(5)

On The River⁷^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: H Bethell| OR: 63| D

5/4

Changed hands for £8,000 in the autumn and proved better than ever returning from 7 months off when landing 16-runner Pontefract handicap (1m) 7 days ago, tackled 1f out and finding extra. Still fairly low-mileage at around 1m and he's a player again under a penalty.

Form: 61256-1

(3)

Ugo Gregory^p,t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 64| C

7/2

Course winner. Thirteen runs since last win in 2021. 16/1, creditable fourth of 12 in handicap at Ripon (8f, soft) 11 days ago, pushed along 3f out and running on. Entitled to be sharper with that under his belt and this ease in class a plus.

Form: 90500-4

(6)

Motarajel^p¹⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 61| CD

12/1

C&D winner who regained winning thread at Ripon (1m) in July and best effort thereafter when runner-up back here in September. Mixed bag final 3 starts, ninth of 14 in handicap at Newcastle (10.2f) when last seen in November. May sharpen up for this first start for almost 6 months.

Form: 842779-

Forecasts

On The River (5/4), Cubana Habana (10/3), Ugo Gregory (7/2), Nasim (12/1), Motarajel (12/1), Intervention (14/1), Asdaa (22/1)

This looks wide open and with that in mind it could pay to take a chance on Richard Fahey's CUBANA HABANA. His exploits proved mixed in handicaps last term but a good pace to aim back at 1m on return should play to his strengths and he's now operating from a career-low mark. Pontefract scorer On The River is feared most under a penalty, ahead of Nasim and Ugo Gregory.