14:42 Epsom Downs

Monday 26 August 2024

All14:0714:4215:1715:5216:2517:00

Betfred 'The Classic Bookmaker' Handicap

Off time: 14:44 | Winning time: 1m 21.95s

(1)

Gorak^p⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: H Crouch| T: C Fellowes| OR: 94| D

11/2

Dual 7f winner in the first half of last season and returned with a pair of good efforts at Newmarket this spring. Well held in high-end handicaps since but this is a welcome drop in class and he could go well.

Form: 90-4200

(4)

Sterling Knight^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Rossa Ryan| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 93| D

10/1

Winner of handicaps at Newbury (7f) and Newmarket (1m) this summer and has continued in good heart from revised mark since, fourth of 9 at Haydock a fortnight ago. Drops back in trip.

Form: 610174

(3)

Bobby Bennu¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: S De Sousa| T: R Varian| OR: 95| D

4/1

Landed the odds at Chester in June and defied a penalty at Thirsk in July. Respectable fifth of 9 in handicap at Newmarket but on that evidence, his mark looks too high.

Form: 2115

(7)

Summer Of Love^h³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 89| D

11/8

Big eye-catcher on debut at Kempton in September and won next 2 starts at that venue over 7f, looking every inch a useful prospect. Different scenario in a 1m handicap at Royal Ascot and she weakened out of it. Much more like it when third at Doncaster and she's a big player in this.

Form: 41-103

(2)

Piz Nair^b1¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Callum Shepherd| T: George Scott| OR: 84

5/1

Unable to add to reappearance success at Lingfield but a likeable and consistent sort, producing another sound effort when a good fourth of 13 in handicap at Windsor (8.1f) 11 days ago. Blinkers replace cheekpieces.

Form: 432424

(5)

Bell Shot¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Joe Leavy⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 77| D

11/1

Type his yard excels with and following a good second at Lingfield, he ran out a dominant winner from the front at Beverley (7.4f) in command entering final 1f and doing it easily. Taken on for the lead but still shaped as though in form at Haydock latest.

Form: 378215

Non-Runners

(6)

Son Of Man⁶⁷

Weight: 9-9| Age: 3

T: J R Boyle J: Benoit D L Sayette

Forecasts

Summer Of Love (11/8), Bobby Bennu (4/1), Piz Nair (5/1), Gorak (11/2), Son Of Man (8/1), Sterling Knight (10/1), Bell Shot (11/1)

Low-mileage 4-y-o SUMMER OF LOVE got back on track returned to 7f when third at Doncaster last month and with Oisin Murphy taking over, she's fancied to build on that and score. Gorak has been running in better races than this of late so he's a threat, along with the consistent Piz Nair.