16:20 Yarmouth

Wednesday 20 September 2023

All14:0514:4015:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Moulton Nurseries Handicap

Off time: 16:21 | Winning time: 1m 53.81s

(1)

Choisya⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: J Mitchell| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 96

9/2

AW novice winner in January who is going the right way, opening her account in handicaps at Haydock (1m) in June and wasting no time getting back on the up after a Royal Ascot blip when scoring at Glorious Goodwood (8f, good to soft) just over 7 weeks ago. 6 lb higher here.

Form: 272101

(6)

Lord Bertie¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Cieren Fallon| T: W J Haggas| OR: 95| BF

7/2

€500,000 purchase who showed promise behind Chaldean on debut and won his next 2 starts a year apart on heavy ground. Proved to be a disappointment back on less testing going making handicap debut at Chester recently (lost a shoe) but worth another chance to progress.

Form: 31-18

(8)

Return To Dubai³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: K T O'Neill| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 89

9/1

Enhanced his stable's fine record with horses returning from absences when getting off the mark cosily in handicap at Chelmsford (10f) just over 5 weeks ago. Open to further improvement, so he's a must for the shortlist.

Form: 4225-1

(2)

Great Max¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: H Crouch| T: M L W Bell| OR: 88

20/1

Useful performer for Michael O'Callaghan last year. Made a positive start for Alice Haynes when fourth in the Spring Cup at Newbury (1m) but not so good since and offered little on first outing for this yard at Sandown recently. Down another 4 lb but leap of faith required.

Form: 9-40067

(4)

Sceptic¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Harry Davies| T: A M Balding| OR: 92

11/1

AW maiden winner who continued theme of race-by-race progress to make third start in handicaps a winning one at Goodwood (1m) in June. Sandown effort thereafter was disappointing but back on song recently, runner-up in Local Group 2 in Hungary 18 days ago.

Form: 641032

(7)

Flying Frontier²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: N Callan| T: J Tate| OR: 91| D

4/1

Won twice on the turf in June and having found things not falling into place at Newcastle next time, ran well back down in trip when runner-up at this course (10.1f, good) last month. Can continue his good work.

Form: 21152

(3)

First Sight⁸²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 90| BF

11/2

Looked promising when winning AW maiden/novice events over 1m/1¼m in January but was possibly amiss after 5 months off on handicap/turf debut at Newmarket in June. Not seen again since but has to be respected given connections.

Form: 5-117

(5)

Dashing Roger¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: W Stone| OR: 83| C

12/1

Very useful handicapper at his peak. Seemingly not so good these days but his mark reflects that and he was a close third at Chester in May. Out of depth at Royal Ascot next time but not disgraced back at a more realistic level at Sandown (10f, good to soft) recently.

Form: 00-5375

(9)

Acotango^b1³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Jim Crowley| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 88

14/1

Won an AW nursery on his final 2-y-o start and has mostly given his running this term. Latest effort at Sandown easy to excuse (denied a run in the straight) and he remains still relatively unexposed. Blinkers applied.

Form: 1-29239

Forecasts

Lord Bertie (7/2), Flying Frontier (4/1), Choisya (9/2), First Sight (11/2), Return To Dubai (9/1), Sceptic (11/1), Dashing Roger (12/1), Acotango (14/1), Great Max (20/1)

Having been all the rage in the betting for his handicap debut, LORD BERTIE disappointed at Chester earlier this month but with that effort easy to put a line through (slowly away and lost a shoe), he's fancied to resume his progress back under softer conditions and stepped up in trip. Return To Dubai made a winning return from a lengthy absence last time so he heads up the dangers, with First Sight and Sceptic another couple fancied to feature.