15:00 Brighton

Wednesday 9 August 2023

All15:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:30

Star Sports Festival Of Racing Handicap

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 1m 1.25s

(9)

Crow's Nest⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: K Stott| T: G Boughey| OR: 82| D

2/1

Won 2 sprint novice events in June and unlucky not to finish closer when third on 6f Newmarket handicap debut 6 weeks ago, keeping on when hampered final 100 yds. Stands out taking on more exposed opposition.

Form: 3113

(3)

Swift Asset³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 82| D

9/4

Built on Goodwood second when going one better at Bath (5.7f) last month. Had a bit in hand and a 4 lb rise looks fair. Likely to go well.

Form: 7-07821

(7)

Pop Dancer^p¹⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Jim Crowley| T: A W Carroll| OR: 76| CD

22/1

C&D winner. Some respectable efforts on AW earlier in the year but his peak fitness has to be on trust after 155 days off.

Form: 4-48374

(4)

Faustus^v¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: J Mitchell| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 76| D

11/2

Runner-up in the mud at Windsor (5f) in May. Ran poorly there the following week but back on track when 2 lengths sixth of 11 at Yarmouth (5f) 2 months later, no extra only late on.

Form: 55-8276

(1)

The Defiant^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Joshua Bryan| T: D Steele| OR: 74| D

11/1

Took advantage of a drop in grade when winning 9-runner handicap Chelmsford handicap in June. Comfortably held in a Class 3 there since but this more his level.

Form: 234615

(2)

Bezzas Lad²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: A W Carroll| OR: 72| D

14/1

Latest win at Lingfield in March. Creditable second at Chester (6f, good) in June but not in the same form back there 3 weeks later. One of 3 runners from his stable.

Form: 312427

(6)

Song Of Success³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rhys Clutterbuck| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 73| BF

17/2

Best effort for new yard when length third of 6 at Lingfield (5f, good to firm) 39 days ago. Return to slightly further could suit. Looks to be building up to something.

Form: 104-453

(5)

Cinque Verde^b,t³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Watson| T: A W Carroll| OR: 72| D

40/1

Successful in first-time blinkers at Wolverhampton (5f) in June but the headgear didn't have the same effect when last of 6 at Musselburgh (5f, good to firm) 37 days ago. First run for yard after leaving Karl Burke.

Form: 343616

(8)

Batchelor Boy^b³²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Darragh Keenan| T: J Gallagher| OR: 66| CD

14/1

Turned in his best effort for some time refitted with blinkers when second over C&D (soft) in June. Followed that with a poor run at Nottingham so his hopes are pinned on a return to this venue sparking a revival.

Form: 3-54628

Forecasts

Crow's Nest (2/1), Swift Asset (9/4), Faustus (11/2), Song Of Success (17/2), The Defiant (11/1), Bezzas Lad (14/1), Batchelor Boy (14/1), Pop Dancer (22/1), Cinque Verde (40/1)

The two 3-y-os at the top of the weights may dominate this, with the lightly raced CROW'S NEST, who was unlucky not to finish closer on his Newmarket handicap debut, narrowly preferred to last month's Bath scorer Swift Asset. Song of Success has got a bit better with each start for new trainer James Fanshawe and may prove best of the remainder.