Close Brothers Motor Finance Handicap

Off time: 20:06 | Winning time: 1m 30.44s

(1)

Lyra Lea²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: B R Millman| OR: 74| D

11/8

Just an all-weather maiden win to her name but that could soon change. Arrives here after good runner-up efforts in handicaps at Chepstow (7f, soft) and Salisbury (1m, good). Gets the vote for in-form stable.

Form: 873-422

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(3)

Decalogue⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: William Carver| T: J A Osborne| OR: 72

40/1

Showed ability on both starts as a juvenile but well held on 7f Kempton reappearance in May. Handicaps provide him with a more realistic chance but it's hard to argue his opening mark looks generous.

Form: 86-8

(6)

Unionville²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Kieren Fox| T: M J Attwater| OR: 69

28/1

Dead-heated for new stable in 6f Chelmsford maiden in February but well held in 3 handicaps over that trip since. It remains to be seen whether a step up in trip improves matters.

Form: 4-21788

(5)

Berkshire Boom¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Watson| T: A M Balding| OR: 68| D

5/2

Won Chester maiden over this trip last July but has yet to build on that success in handicap company this season, beaten 8 lengths when second back at Chester (7f, good to firm) 14 days ago.

Form: 81-7632

(4)

Norfolk Blue^p²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Cieren Fallon| T: W J Knight| OR: 67| BF

7/2

Went close in 15-runner handicap at Doncaster (7f, good to firm) last month. Caught too far back in a steadily-run race when fifth at Ffos Las (7.4f, good to firm) since. There's nothing wrong with the Doncaster form.

Form: 05-4425

(2)

King Cherry^t⁷⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Marco Ghiani| T: S C Williams| OR: 63

6/1

Showed definite ability in all-weather starts over 6f/7f last month in April and led until 2f out in 1m Newmarket novice in May. Given a break ahead of this handicap debut. Likely improver.

Form: 758

Forecasts

Lyra Lea (11/8), Berkshire Boom (5/2), Norfolk Blue (7/2), King Cherry (6/1), Unionville (28/1), Decalogue (40/1)

Rod Millman has his team in fine form and LYRA LEA is taken to gain reward for some good efforts of late. Norfolk Blue had an excuse at Ffos Las last time and will be a threat if back to the level of his Doncaster second. King Cherry is a potential improver in handicaps.