18:00 Musselburgh

Saturday 16 September 2023

All15:4216:1516:5017:2518:0018:3519:10

Travis Perkins Handicap

Off time: 18:02 | Winning time: 1m 31.02s

(8)

Ascot Adventure^p³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 78| D

9/4

Fourteen runs since last win in 2022. Respectable third of 8 in handicap at Ayr (7.2f, good to firm, 9/2) 30 days ago. Down 1 lb and likely to give another good account.

Form: 643233

(1)

Novak²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: William Pyle⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 76| D

9/2

Three wins from 11 runs this year. Creditable fifth of 12 in handicap (9/2) at Redcar (6f, good to firm) 21 days ago, faring best of those held up. Return to this trip a plus and not without each-way hope.

Form: 211145

(10)

Craven^v¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Billy Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 78| D

9/1

Winner at Leicester in July. Tenth of 13 in handicap (18/1) at Newcastle (7.1f) 16 days ago. Others make more appeal for win purposes on this occasion.

Form: 812020

(9)

Muntadab¹

Age: 11| Weight: 9-8| J: Joanna Mason| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 74| CD

13/2

3-time C&D winner. 9/2, fifth of 7 in handicap at Chester (7.6f, soft) 1 day ago, going off too hard.

Form: 730275

(11)

Showtime Mahomes⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: P J McDonald| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 70| C

7/2

Course winner. Eleven runs since last win in 2022. Respectable fifth of 12 in handicap at Thirsk (7f, good to soft, 11/1) 7 days ago. Now 7 lb below his last winning mark and a bold show could be on the way.

Form: 264965

(5)

Black Friday³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mathers| T: R M Smith| OR: 68| CD

8/1

C&D winner. Won 9-runner handicap at Ayr (7.2f, good, 8/1) 35 days ago, always holding on. Remains on a good mark up 2 lb and should make his presence felt.

Form: 664931

(7)

Bowood²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S A Gray| T: K Scott| OR: 71

33/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Sixth of 12 in minor event at Doncaster (7f, good to firm, 100/1) 28 days ago. May well be seen in a better light now switched to handicap company but there will be easier opportunities than this.

Form: 976

(6)

Monhammer¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: D Allan| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 64| CD

14/1

Notched second C&D success in July. 8/1, tenth of 11 in handicap back here (good to firm) 17 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 723180

(2)

Chookie Dunedin⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-8| J: Cam Hardie| T: R M Smith| OR: 60| D

40/1

Sixteen runs since last win in 2022. 8/1, first run since leaving Keith Dalgleish when tenth of 13 in handicap at Ayr (6f, good) 54 days ago. Has dipped to an attractive mark and will be a threat if he puts his best foot forward.

Form: 432430

Non-Runners

(3)

Utilis¹⁶

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: B Ellison J: Ben Robinson

(4)

Rory¹⁷

Weight: 9-0| Age: 5

T: J S Goldie J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Ascot Adventure (9/4), Showtime Mahomes (7/2), Novak (9/2), Rory (6/1), Muntadab (13/2), Black Friday (8/1), Craven (9/1), Utilis (10/1), Monhammer (14/1), Bowood (33/1), Chookie Dunedin (40/1)

The vote goes to SHOWTIME MAHOMES, who has shaped as though his turn is near in two starts since returning from a break, latterly when upped to this trip at Thirsk where he put in good late work from a compromising position. It's surely a matter of time before Ascot Adventure opens his account for David O'Meara and he is second choice ahead of Chookie Dunedin, who is lurking on a dangerous mark. Black Friday is also entitled to respect.