20:05 Epsom Downs

Thursday 20 July 2023

All17:5518:3019:0019:3520:0520:40

Chantilly Handicap

Off time: 20:08 | Winning time: 1m 25.13s

(1)

Optiva Star^h1⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Tyrese Cameron⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 64

9/1

Remains a maiden after 8 runs and only ninth of 10 in handicap at Salisbury (5f, good to firm) 54 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Hood on 1st time. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 65-7589

(2)

Inverinate^v¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: K Stott| T: I Mohammed| OR: 64| BF| D

6/4

Got off the mark at Chelmsford City in June and backed it up with a good second of 8 in handicap at Lingfield (7f, good to firm) 19 days ago. Can go well again despite a 2 lb rise.

Form: 67-4212

(10)

H Key Lails^p¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Paddy Bradley⁽³⁾| T: M J Attwater| OR: 64

7/1

Final run for Craig Lidster when winning 8.6f handicap at Wolverhampton in May and made a very good start for his new yard when second at Brighton (7f) 16 day ago. May do better still so he's a player.

Form: 128212

(7)

Hawajes²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A W Carroll| OR: 63

16/1

Fair maiden. 40/1, first run since leaving Richard Hannon when good fourth of 11 in minor event at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 24 days ago. Much respected now going into handicaps.

Form: 404

(5)

Muy Muy Guapo¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: L Morris| T: S Dow| OR: 62

9/1

Arrives in decent nick, sixth of 12 in handicap at Kempton (6f, 25/1) 14 days ago, never nearer. One for the shortlist now steping back up in trip.

Form: 674046

(4)

Fayasel^p1¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M Murphy & M Keady| OR: 62| D

4/1

Scored at Wolverhampton in March and in good form since, third of 12 in handicap at Chelmsford City (7f) 11 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Expected to be bang there off an unchanged mark.

Form: 243463

(9)

Twilight Dancer¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Rob Hornby| T: J G Portman| OR: 59

11/2

Fair maiden who posted a creditable third of 9 in handicap at Brighton (7f, good) 16 days ago. In the mix again eased 1 lb.

Form: 66-2673

(8)

Blue Curacao¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: David Egan| T: P Phelan| OR: 52

20/1

Off 6 months/first run since leaving Richard Hannon when fading seventh of 8 in handicap at Windsor (8.1f, good to firm) 17 days ago. Can give a good account with that run under her belt.

Form: 5436-87

Non-Runners

(3)

Margaret's Fuchsia¹⁶

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: Miss Gay Kelleway J: Robert Tart

(6)

Larrsen⁵⁷

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: G & J Moore J: T P Queally

Forecasts

Inverinate (6/4), Fayasel (4/1), Twilight Dancer (11/2), H Key Lails (7/1), Optiva Star (9/1), Muy Muy Guapo (9/1), Larrsen (10/1), Hawajes (16/1), Blue Curacao (20/1), Margaret's Fuchsia (20/1)

Little between the principals on form but H KEY LAILS arrives on the up so he edges the vote from in-form duo Inverinate and Fayasel, who can chase home Michael Attwater's new recruit in that order. Blue Curacao completes the shortlist.