Rosemary Painting's 80th Birthday Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:15 | Winning time: 3m 51.08s

(3)

Russian Rumour^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Olivia Tubb⁽⁷⁾| T: J G Portman| OR: 69| C

2/1

Course winner. Seventeen runs since last win in 2021. Creditable second of 8 in handicap (5/1) at Lingfield (16.3f, good to firm) 16 days ago. Likely to be in the mix.

Form: 5257-22

(5)

Masterdream^p,t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Millie Wonnacott⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 67| D

10/3

Bit below form fourth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Worcester (20f, good to soft, 3/1) 31 days ago. Creditable fifth of 13 on return over 1¾m here in April (not disgraced over hurdles since) and he's one for the shortlist.

Form: 75/370-5

(1)

Cherry Cola⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Frederick Larson| T: Miss S West| OR: 65| BF

2/1

Creditable third of 6 in handicap (7/4) at Lingfield (16.3f, good to firm) 7 days ago. Mark unchanged and likely to give another good account.

Form: 886-133

(4)

Testing Faith^h²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Luke Catton⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 54| BF

8/1

Well-beaten eighth of 10 to Cherry Cola in handicap at Yarmouth (14.1f, good to firm, 10/3) 24 days ago. Up in trip and hood refitted. Others preferred.

Form: 06-2648

(6)

Molliana^p,t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Elisha Whittington⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 49| D

15/2

12/1, good fifth of 13 in handicap at Windsor (11.4f, good to firm) 12 days ago. This significant step up in trip could work in her favour but she looks vulnerable all the same.

Form: 2342-35

Non-Runners

(2)

Appreciate¹¹

Weight: 8-9| Age: 5

T: M F Harris J: Aidan Keeley

Forecasts

Russian Rumour (2/1), Cherry Cola (2/1), Masterdream (10/3), Appreciate (5/1), Molliana (15/2), Testing Faith (8/1)

Preference is for MASTERDREAM, who shaped pretty well on his seasonal reappearance here in April and shaped better than the bare result over hurdles at Worcester since. Russian Rumour has found just one too good on both starts so far this season and she looks set for another leading role, while Appreciate could also be a factor if his recent hurdles form translates back to this sphere. Cherry Cola is likely to be on the premises, too.