17:02 Salisbury

Thursday 5 October 2023

All13:5214:2514:5715:2715:5716:3017:0217:35

PKF Francis Clark Handicap

Off time: 17:04 | Winning time: 2m 17.60s

(8)

Wisper¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Aidan Keeley⁽³⁾| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 86| D

9/1

Won on Brighton reappearance (9.9f) in May and placed twice from 5 starts since, latterly when runner-up at Sandown on penultimate outing. Left on back foot after tardy start at Chester last time and is probably worth treating as if still in form.

Form: 163528

(9)

Croeso Cymraeg²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: Joshua Bryan| T: H J Evans| OR: 81| C| D

13/2

Scored over 1½m here in July and shaped best when second of 4 in handicap (4/1) at Ffos Las (10f, soft) 21 days ago, just failing after conceding first run. Plenty to like again from unchanged mark.

Form: 941482

(6)

Wind Your Neck In^v1⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: K Stott| T: P D Evans| OR: 80| BF| C| D

11/4

Winless since his juvenile campaign but bounced back to form from a reduced mark when second of 12 in handicap at Goodwood (9f, soft, 4/1) 8 days ago. Races from same mark here, so shouldn't be discounted in 1st-time visor.

Form: 882402

(1)

Battista¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 78| BF

7/2

Made the most of a good opportunity when off the mark at Wolverhampton in July. Beaten favourite in handicaps both starts since, still looking bit rough around the edges when third of 10 (7/4) at Yarmouth (10.1f, good to soft) 16 days ago. Worth persevering with.

Form: 43123

(3)

Monteria^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Liam Keniry| T: W S Kittow| OR: 74| D

16/1

Won at Windsor in May and has returned to some kind of form on his last 2 starts, not beaten far when third of 4 in handicap at Ffos Las (10f, soft) 21 days ago. Capable of giving a good account, though others appeal as likelier winners.

Form: 160733

(7)

Zodiac Star³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rossa Ryan| T: A King| OR: 77

20/1

In the frame in all 3 starts in novice events last season but has been sparingly seen this year and folded rather tamely stepping up in trip when eighth of 9 on his handicap debut at Kempton (11f) 36 days ago.

Form: 443-58

(4)

Bint Al Daar⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Oisin Murphy| T: K P De Foy| OR: 72| BF

10/3

Found improvement when getting off the mark at Newmarket (8f) in August and got back on the up when finishing a clear second of 11 in handicap at Nottingham (8.3f, heavy) 9 days ago. Could do with learning to settle better but is a player nonetheless.

Form: 361372

(2)

Karakoy¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: T E Whelan| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 71| D

12/1

Placed in 2 maidens before getting off the mark at Chepstow in June. Ran poorly switched to handicap company when tenth of 11 at Kempton (8f) 17 days ago. Back up in trip and it's still early days.

Form: 3210

Non-Runners

(5)

Cap Francais³⁵

Weight: 9-8| Age: 7

T: Ian Williams J: R Kingscote

Forecasts

Wind Your Neck In (11/4), Bint Al Daar (10/3), Battista (7/2), Croeso Cymraeg (13/2), Wisper (9/1), Karakoy (12/1), Monteria (16/1), Zodiac Star (20/1), Cap Francais (20/1)

BATTISTA has been beaten at short prices on both starts in handicap company so far but he's gradually appearing to get the hang of things and should prove capable of defying this mark. Bint Al Daar managed to run well despite doing plenty wrong at Nottingham last week so also merits respect, with in-form course winner Croeso Cymraeg also considered.