J20 Classified Claiming Stakes

3YO plus | Class 4 | 7f 127y | 6 Runners | Turf

(3)

Candonomore^p,t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: George Wood| T: J Candlish| OR: 79| D

7/1

Ended time with Stuart Williams with a 1m Bath win. Creditable third over 9f at Ayr on first outing for Jennie Candlish but 3 lesser efforts have followed and not favoured by the conditions now dropping into claiming company.

Form: 213687

(5)

Alpha Capture^b⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: K Stott| T: Roger Fell| OR: 82| BF| D

5/2

Built on several encouraging runs since joining this yard when landing 7f Doncaster handicap (good to firm) in June and only narrowly denied in follow-up bid there 15 days later. Encountered traffic problems when down the field at York last time and expected to fare much better here.

Form: 362120

(2)

I Still Have Faith^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Ray Dawson| T: S C Williams| OR: 81| D

9/2

On a long losing run but has shaped well on occasions, going close twice on the all-weather in the spring. Has been below best on last 3 outings, though, and tendency to pull hard remains a concern.

Form: 254065

(4)

Blue Prince¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: P D Evans| OR: 85

11/10

Ended a losing run stretching back almost 2 years when seeing off 6 rivals over 7f at Salisbury (good) in June. Creditable third at Kempton 18 days later but below form in 4-runner event back at Salisbury last time. Obvious claims if bouncing back, though, and booking of Murphy looks significant.

Form: 9-33133

(6)

Calyxoh^v1⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Paddy Bradley| T: P Morris| OR: 72

22/1

Best effort this year when third of 9 in a C&D handicap 22 days ago. Disappointing back on all-weather last time, though, and not the easiest to weigh up with more severe headgear now reached for.

Form: 909730

(1)

Midnight Strike^p,t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Jack Callan| T: J Candlish| OR: 77| D

10/1

Useful at his peak in Ireland and made the most of a big drop in grade fitted with headgear when landing 3-runner seller at Beverley 30 days ago. Found life tougher back in a handicap last time, though.

Form: 000815

Forecasts

Blue Prince (9/4), Alpha Capture (5/2), I Still Have Faith (10/3), Midnight Strike (4/1), Candonomore (14/1), Calyxoh (20/1)

BLUE PRINCE snapped a near 2-year losing run at Salisbury in June and is taken to bounce back from a below-par effort, with Oisin Murphy back up and weight received from 3 rivals. Alpha Capture’s York run 9 days ago is easy to overlook given the trouble he met, and his Doncaster win in June puts him firmly in the mix, while I Still Have Faith is respected on his best form.