17:00 Leicester

Friday 12 April 2024

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Ronan Keating Ladies' Day 15th June Handicap

4YO plus | Class 4 | 1m 3f 179y | 8 Runners | Turf

(8)

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Billy Loughnane| T: S Woods| OR: 83| D

Won at Newcastle and Lingfield in 2023 but ended season in a lull. Proven on heavy ground but others preferred after 155 days off.

Form: 315406-

(7)

Wind Your Neck In²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: R Kingscote| T: P D Evans| OR: 82| D

Latest win at Newmarket in November. 20/1, given considerate return when ninth of 12 in handicap at Southwell (11.1f) 23 days ago and shouldn't be ruled out with that run under his belt.

Form: 02731-9

(1)

Maxi King³⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: David Egan| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 82

Much improved on first outing since leaving David Loughnane when winning 12-runner maiden (9/1) at Doncaster (10.2f, heavy) last April. Looks on interesting mark if ready to roll after 12 months off.

Form: 24433/1-

(4)

The Whipmaster¹⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: T P Queally| T: G & J Moore| OR: 82

40/1, 16¼ lengths eighth of 11 to Wind Your Neck In in handicap at Newmarket (12f, soft). Off 161 days. Others more persuasive.

Form: 652858-

(2)

Wahraan^h1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 82

Useful winner at his best for Sir Michael Stoute, off 14 months before returning for new yard in December. Caught eye last time, finishing with running left under considerate handling at Southwell, and he's very interesting with hood applied.

Form: 5637/7-0

(3)

Croeso Cymraeg¹⁵⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 9-7| J: William Cox| T: H J Evans| OR: 80| C| D

Course winner. 6/1, seventh of 8 in handicap at Chelmsford City (13.3f), unable to sustain effort. Off 155 days. Free-going sort but ran well in this on return last season.

Form: 482257-

(6)

Esmeray²⁰³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 78| BF

Promising type. 6/4, shaped well when third of 8 in handicap at Newbury (12f, heavy), making effort earlier than ideal. Off 6 months. Likely capable of better still and is expected to be bang there.

Form: 3213-

(5)

Upepo²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Jack Doughty⁽⁷⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 68| BF| D

Latest win at Lingfield in January. Creditable third of 9 in handicap (9/4) at Southwell (14.1f) 23 days ago. Holding form well at present and wouldn't be discounted if coping with conditions.

Form: 4-11233

Forecasts

Maxi King (11/4), Esmeray (7/2), Wind Your Neck In (4/1), Upepo (8/1), Appier (8/1), Croeso Cymraeg (10/1), Wahraan (10/1), The Whipmaster (12/1)

An interesting race, with the unexposed ESMERAY fancied to make a winning return after 6 months off. Ralph Beckett's filly was perhaps ridden too aggressively in gruelling conditions on her only prior handicap start and a mark of 78 looks more than workable. Wahraan wasn't given a hard time at Southwell and lurks on a very interesting mark back on turf, whilst Maxi King hasn't been seen since winning a Doncaster maiden last year and is also an intriguing contender.