17:00 Salisbury

Sunday 16 June 2024

All14:2514:5515:2516:0016:3017:0017:30

H S Lester Memorial Challenge Cup Handicap

Off time: 17:02 | Winning time: 2m 9.62s

(3)

Croeso Cymraeg²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 9-11| J: Joe Leavy⁽⁵⁾| T: H J Evans| OR: 77| C| D

15/2

Course winner. Respectable fifth of 13 in handicap (14/1) at Windsor (11.4f, good to firm) 27 days ago, unable to sustain effort. has fallen 2 lb below last winning mark and one to bear in mind back at scene of last success.

Form: 2257-55

(9)

Chips And Rice²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: S M Levey| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 76| D

9/2

Won twice on AW/turf last season and stepped up on reappearance when second of 7 in handicap at Lingfield (11.6f, good) 24 days ago, running out without proving a match for winner. Should give another good account.

Form: 6920-52

(2)

Just An Hour²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Ross Coakley| T: B R Millman| OR: 74

11/1

Creditable seventh of 13 in handicap (14/1) at Windsor (11.4f, good to firm) 27 days ago, not knocked about. Mark is steadily easing and he's not one to write off.

Form: 00-9647

(5)

Photon^p1²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R A Teal| OR: 72

12/1

4/1, creditable fourth of 9 in handicap at Chelmsford City (10f) 24 days ago, nearest finish. Cheekpieces on 1st time and he shouldn't be long in getting off the mark.

Form: 0-26224

(1)

Expert Witness^t³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: George Rooke| T: Sir M Todd| OR: 70| BF| D

2/1

Opened his account at Lingfield (10f) in September and returned in good heart on turf, creditable second of 13 in handicap at Newbury (10f, good to firm, 10/3) 3 days ago, ridden under 3f out and keeping on. Possibilities again in present groove.

Form: 545-222

(4)

God Of Fire²⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Saffie Osborne| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 70

9/2

All-weather maiden winner (at 9.5f) early last year who produced best effort thereafter when third at Kempton (11f) in August. Not disgraced on final start for Stuart Williams at Wolverhampton (12.2f) in October and return to shorter rates a plus on return/yard debut.

Form: 890396-

(7)

On The Cards^p1¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: T E Whelan| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 67| BF

18/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Creditable third of 6 in handicap at Brighton (9.9f, good to firm, 6/4) 13 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time but even longer trips promise to suit ideally.

Form: 726-33

(6)

Meleri³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Luke Catton⁽⁵⁾| T: J R Boyle| OR: 66| D

10/1

Seventh of 10 in handicap (20/1) at Ascot (10f, good to firm) 36 days ago, doing too much too soon. Rider takes off handy 5 lb but others stronger for win purposes.

Form: 2471-97

(8)

Pride Of Nepal^t,v1⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Georgia Dobie⁽³⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 60| C| D

33/1

Course winner. Fifth of 6 in handicap at Brighton (11.9f, good, 17/2) 9 days ago, weakening 1f out. Visor on 1st time.

Form: 905-685

Forecasts

Expert Witness (2/1), God Of Fire (9/2), Chips And Rice (9/2), Croeso Cymraeg (15/2), Meleri (10/1), Just An Hour (11/1), Photon (12/1), On The Cards (18/1), Pride Of Nepal (33/1)

CROESO CYMRAEG is now into the veteran stage but he clearly retains plenty of ability judged on his latest midfield effort over further at Windsor 4 weeks ago. Back at the scene of each of his last 2 victories, he's been afforded a chance by the assessor and could be worth chancing in an open affair. Photon and Expert Witness are others to consider.