17:02 Bath

Saturday 19 August 2023

All17:0217:3518:1018:4019:1019:4020:10

Big Stage Hire Handicap

Off time: 17:06 | Winning time: 1m 10.84s

(9)

Magnificence^h,t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Billy Loughnane⁽³⁾| T: Brian O'Rourke| OR: 75

5/1

Consistency has never been her strong suit and it's now thirteen runs since her last win in 2021, though she only went down on the nod when second of 6 in handicap at Ffos Las (5f, heavy, 13/2) 19 days ago and has the benefit of Billy Loughnane aboard. Another good show is expected.

Form: 602782

(6)

Parisiac^b²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Mr Taylor Fisher⁽³⁾| T: Alice Haynes| OR: 74| BF| D

15/2

Latest win at Lingfield in June and followed that victory with a pair of respectable performances. Disappointing when fourth of 6 in handicap (11/4) at Windsor (6f, good) 21 days ago. Blinkers back on.

Form: 441434

(4)

Airshow^p,h²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Oliver Searle⁽⁷⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 73| CD

15/2

4-time course winner. 6/1, shaped as if still in form when third of 6 in handicap at Windsor (6f, good) 21 days ago, not ideally placed. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 321423

(3)

Sarah's Verse¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Saffie Osborne| T: R Harris| OR: 72| CD

3/1

3-time C&D winner. 3/1, another good effort despite not getting clear run when third of 7 in handicap at Yarmouth (5.2f, good to firm) 10 days ago, running on. Player.

Form: 566523

(1)

Beyond Equal⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Liam Keniry| T: W S Kittow| OR: 72| CD

7/1

C&D winner. Fourteen runs since last win in 2021. 16/1, bit below form fourth of 11 in handicap at Nottingham (6.1f, good to soft) 9 days ago. Becoming well treated.

Form: 547754

(8)

The Princes Poet⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: George Downing| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 69| D

11/1

Latest win at Brighton in May. 13/2, shaped better than the bare result when seventh of 11 in handicap at Newbury (6f, good to firm) 53 days ago, travelling well before meeting trouble more than once in closing stages. Can make presence felt.

Form: 43-0147

(10)

Connie's Rose²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Callum Hutchinson⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 69| C| D

8/1

Course winner. 3 wins from 10 runs this year. Latest win here in June. 11/4, not disgraced when third of 7 in handicap at Chepstow (5.1f, good to soft) 22 days ago. Sound place claims.

Form: 512163

(7)

Symbol of Hope^p¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Ray Dawson| T: G Harris| OR: 68| BF| CD

7/1

5-time course winner. 4/1, again ran well when second of 12 in handicap at this C&D (good) 10 days ago. Should be bang there again.

Form: 323622

(2)

Ruby Cottage¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Gina Mangan⁽³⁾| T: M S Saunders| OR: 65| CD

18/1

Three-time C&D winner hasn't beaten a rival in pair of outings at this course since returning from a year absence in July. Lots to prove at present.

Form: 1623-89

(5)

Reve De Magritte¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: George Rooke| T: E De Giles| OR: 59

40/1

Winner at Pornichet late last year for E. Libaud and has posted mostly respectable efforts since, possibly unsuited by conditions when last of 4 in handicap (3/1) at Ffos Las (5f, heavy) on UK debut 11 days ago. Capable of better this time.

Form: 456544

Non-Runners

(11)

Glamorous Express¹²

Weight: 8-9| Age: 4

T: A W Carroll J: William Carson

Forecasts

Sarah's Verse (3/1), Magnificence (5/1), Beyond Equal (7/1), Symbol of Hope (7/1), Airshow (15/2), Parisiac (15/2), Connie's Rose (8/1), The Princes Poet (11/1), Ruby Cottage (18/1), Glamorous Express (25/1), Reve De Magritte (40/1)

THE PRINCES POET caught the eye at Newbury last time and Eve Johnson Houghton's gelding tops the shortlist here, with the strong pace likely to play to his strengths granted more luck in running. Magnificence isn't the most reliable but she'll be hard to knock out of the frame if in the same form as when a close second at Ffos Las last time, whilst course-specialist Symbol of Hope and the in-form Sarah's Verse are also players in a decent heat.