17:20 Doncaster

Saturday 6 May 2023

All17:2017:5518:2518:5519:2519:5520:25

Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Handicap (Str)

Off time: 17:21 | Winning time: 1m 45.18s

(6)

Manitou^p1²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: L Morris| T: A Watson| OR: 87

16/1

Won at Chepstow and Bro Park last season but underperformed when bidding to complete hat-trick in listed race at Chantilly (7f, good to soft). Too free after 6 months off when last at Musselburgh 4 weeks ago and first-time cheekpieces are applied.

Form: 3317-9

(5)

Metahorse^v1²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Ben Robinson| T: M L W Bell| OR: 86

13/2

Recorded successive victories last July, winning 3-runner event on nursery debut at Thirsk (7f). In-and-out after and produced a laboured effort after 6 months off (gelded in interim) at Musselburgh 4 weeks ago. First-time headgear on.

Form: 11038-6

(8)

Escarpment¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: J Mitchell| T: M Meade| OR: 84

2/1

4/1, ran his best race after 6 months off when second of 10 in maiden at Newbury (8f, heavy) 2 weeks ago. Enters calculations on handicap debut.

Form: 44-2

(3)

Overrule³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Ryan Sexton⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 81

3/1

Winner at Redcar in November. Proved to be a disappointment after 5 months off when eighth of 13 in minor event at this course (7f, heavy, 11/4) 34 days ago, doing too much too soon. Must bounce back on handicap debut.

Form: 41-8

(2)

Maximilian Caesar²⁰⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: B A Curtis| T: M Botti| OR: 80

7/2

Lightly-raced winner. 11/4, again ran well when second of 5 in nursery at Kempton (8f), missing break. Not dismissed returning from 6 months off (gelded in the interim).

Form: 61322-

(7)

Finest Leader¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Connor Planas⁽⁵⁾| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 71

7/1

Ran poorly after 5 months off when fifteenth of 17 in handicap (13/2) at Newmarket (7f, good to soft) 16 days ago. Will need to leave that effort well behind.

Form: 445-0

Non-Runners

(4)

Theme Park²⁶

Weight: 9-10| Age: 3

T: N Tinkler J: Faye McManoman

(1)

Classic Speed²²

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: C G Cox J: Cieren Fallon

Forecasts

Escarpment (2/1), Overrule (3/1), Maximilian Caesar (7/2), Theme Park (5/1), Metahorse (13/2), Finest Leader (7/1), Classic Speed (7/1), Manitou (16/1)

THEME PARK may have disappointed on his first start for new connections at Redcar last month, but he was entitled to need the outing so Nigel Tinkler's charge can make a winning handicap debut. Escarpment is another venturing into handicaps for the first time so he may emerge as the main danger after an encouraging reappearance, with the consistent Maximilian Caesar rounding off the shortlist.