14:25 Doncaster

Saturday 23 March 2024

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

William Hill Epic Boost Spring Mile Handicap (Str)

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 1m 46.12s

(4)

Lion Tower⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 84| D

28/1

Posted his best effort in a long while when second of 13 in handicap at Newcastle (7.1f) 48 days ago. Ought to be in the shake-up off the same mark.

Form: 08/900-2

(5)

Look Back Smiling¹⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Brandon Wilkie⁽⁵⁾| T: G Tutty| OR: 83| C

17/2

Reluctant sort but he posted a career best when winning 10-runner handicap here (7f, heavy) in October. Needs to back it up off a 3 lb higher mark.

Form: 486451-

(18)

Titian¹⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Ryan Sexton| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 83| C| D

12/1

Course winner who turned in a rare below-par effort when ninth of 12 in handicap at York (10.2f, soft) in October. Sort to bounce back after a break.

Form: 634539-

(11)

Dirtyoldtown¹⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Rhys Clutterbuck| T: Dylan Cunha| OR: 82

10/1

22/1, improved on recent efforts to win 17-runner handicap at Newmarket (7f, heavy) in November. Handles the mud well so he can make his presence felt despite taking a 5 lb rise.

Form: 090801-

(9)

Wildfell³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: J F Egan| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 82| CD

22/1

C&D winner who arrives in decent nick, fourth of 11 in handicap at Kempton (8f) 34 days ago. One to consider.

Form: 707-524

(12)

Arthur's Realm¹⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Rossa Ryan| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 82| CD

17/2

Took this in 2022 and not disgraced when fourth of 12 in handicap at Kempton (12f) in October. Not ruled out on his seasonal return.

Form: 235374-

(1)

Thunder Roar¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: J P Spencer| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 80| C

5/1

Signed off for 2023 with 7f win here and resumed with a solid third of 12 in handicap at Southwell (7.1f) 13 days ago. Not taken lightly off an unchanged mark.

Form: 80311-3

(8)

Magic Memories^t¹⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: T P Queally| T: G & J Moore| OR: 80| D

7/1

Took his form up another notch when shedding maiden status in 1m handicap at Brighton (heavy) in October and backed it up with a good third at Newmarket following month. Shortlisted on his return.

Form: 932413-

(7)

Clear Angel^h¹⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: S Corbett| OR: 79| D

12/1

Dual 1m winner last season who signed off with a respectable fourth of 16 in handicap at Redcar (8f, good), not ideally placed. In the mix.

Form: 114304-

(16)

Kalikapour^p¹⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S De Sousa| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 79| D

33/1

A fair ex-Irish 1m winner who wasn't disgraced when a close 11th in 10f Dundalk handicap in September. Much respected after a break for his new handler with few miles still on the clock.

Form: 61/7050-

(13)

He's A Gentleman^v⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Hart| T: H Palmer| OR: 78| BF| D

22/1

A two-time scorer at Wolverhampton last autumn who resumed with a good second of 12 in handicap there (7.2f) 42 days ago, just failing. Merits consideration.

Form: 31212-2

(10)

Hortzadar^p¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 77| D

33/1

Bagged two 1m handicaps last autumn but only eighth of 10 in handicap at Newcastle (8f) 15 days ago. Needs to get back on track.

Form: 13-5488

(2)

Maysong^p¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Christian Howarth⁽³⁾| T: Alice Haynes| OR: 77| D

16/1

Consistent sort who posted a good second of 8 in handicap at Kempton (8f) 17 days ago. A two-time 1m winner in 2023 so he needs considering.

Form: 858-732

(15)

Expressionless^p¹⁰⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: K T O'Neill| T: Dylan Cunha| OR: 76| D

12/1

Kickstarted 2023 with back-to-back 1m wins at Nottingham and Epsom. Caught wide when seventh of 9 at Lingfield (10f, AW) final run so no surprise to see him in the picture here off a 2 lb lower mark.

Form: 119067-

(14)

Harswell Duke¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Jonny Peate⁽³⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 75| CD

7/1

C&D winner in the mud last spring and shaped as if the run was needed after 4 months off when sixth of 9 in handicap at Newcastle (8f) 10 days ago. Merits serious consideration off a handy-looking mark.

Form: 07670-6

(3)

Helter Skelter⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: R Menzies| OR: 74

22/1

Fair 1m maiden for John Joseph Murphy last autumn. Sold for 38,000 gns and posted an encouraging fourth for his new yard after 6 months off in minor event at Wolverhampton (9.5f) 8 days ago. Interesting now going into handicaps, especially if the market vibes are positive.

Form: 263-4

(17)

Skilled Warrior¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Ethan Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 70| D

66/1

It's now 13 runs since his last win in 2023 and he came in only seventh of 9 in handicap at Newcastle (8f, 16/1) 10 days ago. Others are preferred.

Form: 8-48807

(6)

Tonal³⁶^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: S D Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 55| BF

28/1

Got off the mark at Wolverhampton in February and not disgraced under a 5 lb penalty when fourth of 9 in handicap there (9.5f) 36 days ago. Possibilities.

Form: 8-93414

Forecasts

Thunder Roar (5/1), Magic Memories (7/1), Harswell Duke (7/1), Look Back Smiling (17/2), Arthur's Realm (17/2), Dirtyoldtown (10/1), Clear Angel (12/1), Expressionless (12/1), Titian (12/1), Maysong (16/1), Helter Skelter (22/1), Wildfell (22/1), He's A Gentleman (22/1), Lion Tower (28/1), Tonal (28/1), Hortzadar (33/1), Kalikapour (33/1), Skilled Warrior (66/1)

Plenty are in with a shout. Roger Fell took this 12 months ago and his HARSWELL DUKE is worth siding with given he should strip fitter for a recent Newcastle sixth and also now figures on a good mark after his C&D success in the mud last spring. Gary Moore's Magic Memories also handles these underfoot conditions really well and could emerge as the main threat ahead of handicap-debutant Helter Skelter and reliable duo Maysong and Titian.