Betfred Nifty 50 Handicap

Off time: 19:24 | Winning time: 1m 9.30s

(3)

Alzahir^t⁴^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Warren Fentiman⁽⁵⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 90| D

5/4

3 wins from 10 runs this year. 10/3, career best when winning 9-runner handicap at Chester (6.1f, good to firm) 4 days ago, taking full advantage of a more favourable draw than on his previous start. Big shout again turned out quickly with his very promising rider's claim off-setting penalty.

Form: 457541

(6)

Mehmar^b³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: William Carver| T: J A Osborne| OR: 85| D

33/1

Hit the ground running last summer with a brace of sprint wins in Ireland. Ended 2024 in disappointing fashion though and well held returning for new yard/after 8 months off when ninth of 10 in handicap at Windsor (6f) 37 days ago. This promises to reveal more.

Form: 11D00-9

(4)

Mister Bluebird²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Jack Dace⁽⁷⁾| T: H Main| OR: 80| D

5/1

Went without any headgear for first time this year and bounced right back to form when making all in 6-runner handicap at Goodwood (6f, good to soft, 4/1) 24 days ago. Performed well on sole previous visit here and definite possibilities again.

Form: 099-351

(5)

Huscal³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Billy Loughnane| T: C Hills| OR: 85| D

5/2

Successful on 2 of his 3 starts as a juvenile and he ran well whilst appearing stretched by the trip when third at Goodwood (7f) in May. Backward step with blinkers enlisted (left off here) when twelfth of 13 in handicap at Leicester (6f) 37 days ago but certainly not one to write off.

Form: 611-730

(2)

Far Above Dream¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Shepherd| T: James Owen| OR: 84| D

5/1

3-y-o who made it first time lucky for his thriving yard at Bath (5.7f) last month but struggled to replicate that upped in class when seventeenth of 18 in handicap (25/1) at York (6f, good to firm) 18 days ago. Return to this smaller field can likely see him in a better light.

Form: 57210

Non-Runners

(1)

Nazron¹⁸

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: I Furtado J: Hollie Doyle

Forecasts

Alzahir (5/4), Huscal (5/2), Nazron (9/2), Mister Bluebird (5/1), Far Above Dream (5/1), Mehmar (33/1)

ALZAHIR took full advantage of a more favourable draw than on his previous start when gaining a third victory of the campaign at Chester on Saturday. His promising rider's claim off-sets his penalty for that success and he could prove tough to contain with a repeat. That said there are several in-form sorts in opposition, with Nazron and Mister Bluebird fancied to emerge as lead threats.