15:50 Nottingham

Tuesday 26 September 2023

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Grassroots Series Final Sprint Handicap

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 1m 15.81s

(8)

Pinafore^p³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 93| BF| CD

7/2

Dark Angel filly who was clearly well served by fitting of first-time cheekpieces when adding to her tally over C&D last month. Unable to reproduce that form in a deeper field trying the minimum trip for the first time at York since but respected back up in trip.

Form: 414516

(1)

Spirit Of Applause¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Sean Kirrane| T: T D Easterby| OR: 82| D

11/1

Scored at Haydock in May and has caught the eye a couple of times in recent months, latest when smooth-travelling fourth to Pinafore over C&D (good to soft) 6 weeks ago. Rare poor effort back down in trip at York last time but can bounce back returned to 6f.

Form: 292540

(9)

Fantasy Master^p³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: David Egan| T: Darryll Holland| OR: 78| CD

8/1

Got off the mark for the season in 10-runner handicap at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) in July but ran poorly in follow-up bid at York next time. Fared better at Newbury without getting back to his best and likely to find a few too strong.

Form: 726105

(10)

Northern Spirit^p²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 78| CD

10/3

Has won 3 times this year (including over C&D) and continued his run of creditable efforts since being fitted with cheekpieces when third at Chelmsford last time, nearest at the finish. Solid each-way claims once again.

Form: 341223

(11)

Just A Spark³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: David Probert| T: B R Millman| OR: 76| D

16/1

Already won 4 times this year and shrugged off a lesser effort at Newmarket without getting back to top form when eighth at Windsor (6f, good to firm) last month. Others look stronger.

Form: 397178

(2)

Billyjoh¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Frederick Larson⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 76| D

6/1

Made a winning debut at Doncaster in July but matched rather than advanced his form in 3 outings since. However, it remains early days and he is in top hands.

Form: 1355

(12)

Mokaatil^b¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 8-5| J: Harry Davies| T: Ian Williams| OR: 70| CD

18/1

Has been operating some way below his best this year and only fifth at Chester (6.1f, soft) 10 days ago. Blinkers back on but it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 359065

(6)

Foreseeable Future^v¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 8-4| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 69| D

10/1

Enjoyed a fruitful campaign winning 4 times and produced an even better performance in defeat when runner-up at Bath (5.7f, good) 10 days ago, as expected well suited by the return to positive tactics. In the mix with a repeat.

Form: 211252

(4)

Havana Rum^v¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: F Norton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 66| D

11/2

Has responded well to the fitting of a visor and improved in getting off the mark for the season at Catterick (6f, soft) a fortnight ago. This much tougher, but he's heading in the right direction now.

Form: 752731

(13)

Brother Sebastian²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Mia Nicholls⁽⁷⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 59

80/1

Hasn't progressed since switched to handicaps and this is much tougher than the races he's been competing in. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: 35-6780

Non-Runners

(7)

Muscika³⁹

Weight: 8-11| Age: 9

T: D O'Meara J: Rossa Ryan

(5)

Sera Dawn¹

Weight: 8-5| Age: 3

T: J Channon J: Rose Dawes

(3)

Muy Muy Guapo⁴

Weight: 8-2| Age: 3

T: S Dow J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Northern Spirit (10/3), Pinafore (7/2), Havana Rum (11/2), Billyjoh (6/1), Muscika (6/1), Fantasy Master (8/1), Foreseeable Future (10/1), Spirit Of Applause (11/1), Sera Dawn (14/1), Just A Spark (16/1), Mokaatil (18/1), Muy Muy Guapo (20/1), Brother Sebastian (80/1)

Having been an easy winner over C&D last month, PINAFORE was unable to reproduce that effort dropped to the minimum trip at York 8 days later, but she's been freshened up for this and looks sure to go close back up in distance. The main danger may emerge from Billyjoh, who shaped encouragingly taking on his elders for the first time and is still not quite the finished article. Northern Spirit and Havana Rum can do battle for third spot.