19:00 Epsom Downs

Thursday 13 July 2023

All17:5518:2519:0019:3520:1020:40

Betfred Play Fred's 5 Million Handicap

Off time: 19:05 | Winning time: 1m 10.76s

(7)

Toussarok²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 77| CD

5/2

C&D winner. 2¾ lengths eighth of 10 to Faro De San Juan in handicap at Chester (6.1f, good, 12/1) 26 days ago. Should strip fitter for that and handicapper has dropped him 2 lb, so he looks a player.

Form: 5-62038

(8)

Count Otto^b,h¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 74| CD

15/2

C&D winner. Latest win at Lingfield in March. Last of 8 in handicap (18/1) at Newmarket (6f, good) 19 days ago. Something to prove at present.

Form: 917948

(1)

Magical Merlin^b1¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: A J Farragher⁽³⁾| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 79| D

2/1

Latest win at Lingfield in June. Fourth of 6 in handicap (7/2) at Windsor (6f, good to firm) 17 days ago. Blinkers on 1st time. Remains one to be interested in.

Form: 16-5414

(5)

Grenham Bay²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Joshua Bryan| T: A M Balding| OR: 77| BF| D

3/1

2 wins from 5 runs this year. Latest win at Salisbury in May. 11/4, eighth of 11 in handicap at Kempton (6f) 29 days ago, unsuited by way race developed. Not completely dismissed.

Form: 5-41158

(6)

Pablo Del Pueblo⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Paddy Bradley⁽³⁾| T: S Dow| OR: 70| D

17/2

Latest win at Lingfield in March. 10/1, fifth of 8 in handicap at Kempton (6f) 7 days ago, doing too much too soon. Others have achieved more.

Form: 318735

(2)

Lethal Angel^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: William Carson| T: B R Johnson| OR: 61| D

50/1

Last of 5 in handicap (10/1) at Brighton (5.3f, soft) 23 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Hard to make a strong case for.

Form: 2120-55

Result Amended

Count Otto - Original Position 1st. Amended Position 2nd.

Magical Merlin - Original Position 2nd. Amended Position 1st.

Non-Runners

(4)

Justcallmepete²⁴

Weight: 10-3| Age: 4

T: H J Evans J: D C Costello

(3)

Faro De San Juan¹⁸

Weight: 10-3| Age: 4

T: Dylan Cunha J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Magical Merlin (2/1), Justcallmepete (9/4), Toussarok (5/2), Grenham Bay (3/1), Faro De San Juan (9/2), Count Otto (15/2), Pablo Del Pueblo (17/2), Lethal Angel (50/1)

TOUSSAROK left the impression he'd strip fitter for the run back from a short break at Chester last time and he's shown his effectiveness at this track in the past, so he's worth a chance to defy a handy mark at the likely expense of the in-form Justcallmepete. Magical Merlin is another to consider.