18:10 Leicester

Saturday 13 May 2023

All17:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:1020:40

Sharon McManus Memorial Selling Stakes

Off time: 18:11 | Winning time: 2m 53.65s

(3)

Celestial Force⁵³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: B A Curtis| T: Christian Williams| OR: 79| D

4/1

Fairly useful at up to 2m on Flat for Tom Dascombe earlier in career and developed into a fair hurdler for Paul Nicholls thereafter, winning 4 times. Absent since finishing second in a claiming hurdle on debut for this yard late in 2021 but big player if ready to roll on return back on Flat.

Form: 223226/

(5)

Navegaon Gate^p¹¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: L P Keniry| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 67

2/1

Ungenuine type. 8/1, below form ninth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (23.9f, soft) in January, ridden after 4 out and soon beaten. Pick of his form gives him claims in a very trappy seller but he's far from the easiest to predict. Cheekpieces replace visor.

Form: 534607/

(9)

Still Standing^b,t⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Morgan Cole⁽⁷⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 77

7/1

Useful staying handicapper on Flat in his pomp for Jessica Harrington but operating well below his best over hurdles/on Flat more recently for William Durkan, ninth of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (2m) in March. Starts out for new yard now.

Form: 09500-9

(1)

Zuraig^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Jordan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 65

15/2

Fair gelding. Fourteen runs since last win in 2021. 25/1, thirteenth of 14 in handicap at Bath (10.2f, soft) 12 days ago, very slowly away and always detached. Temperament very much under suspicion now.

Form: 302-050

(2)

She's Out Of Reach¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Christian Howarth⁽⁵⁾| T: L Allan

40/1

Showed little all 4 starts in bumpers and similar story in pair of AW novice events in recent weeks for present yard. Passed over even allowing for this drop into selling company.

Form: 53

(8)

Moltisanti¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Ray Dawson| T: D Loughnane| OR: 58

10/3

Fair gelding. Sixth of 7 in handicap (33/1) at Pontefract (8f, good to soft) 19 days ago, slowly away and left behind from 3f out. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 4955-86

(4)

Soothing Blaze²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Darragh Keenan| T: W Stone| OR: 56

17/2

Lightly-raced maiden. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, eighth of 10 in handicap (20/1) at Yarmouth (8f, heavy) 28 days ago. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 67488

Non-Runners

(6)

Tiger Voice²⁸

Weight: 10-2| Age: 8

T: B J Llewellyn J: D C Costello

(7)

Free Chakarte⁸¹

Weight: 10-1| Age: 4

T: D Pipe J: Oliver Stammers

Forecasts

Navegaon Gate (2/1), Tiger Voice (11/4), Moltisanti (10/3), Celestial Force (4/1), Still Standing (7/1), Zuraig (15/2), Soothing Blaze (17/2), Free Chakarte (10/1), She's Out Of Reach (40/1)

A decidedly trappy seller with CELESTIAL FORCE receiving the tentative vote in the hope he's ready to roll after a lengthy absence. Free Chakarte and Still Standing may emerge as the chief threats.