Betway Handicap

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 2m 25.61s

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(2)

Ansaab^p,t⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 75

9/2

Formerly a smart handicapper but has not won for over two years now and falling in the weights. Ran below form again at Newcastle last time out and has his first experience of fibresand now.

Form: 236636

(3)

Footlight²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 74

9/2

Useful in handicaps and won twice last year (once at Southwell). Tries a longer trip now after showing up well over 1m2f last time out. Would have needed a stronger pace than she got there and capable of going well here if she gets that scenario on her return to a surface that suits.

Form: 2-21334

(6)

Storm King¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Josephine Gordon| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 72

10/3

Yet to run on this unique surface but by a sire with a decent record on it. Not won since 2014 off a much higher mark and last couple of races have not gone to plan. Excuse his last run when he got left poorly placed in a slowly run race but more needed here although the handicapper is giving him a chance.

Form: 461321

(4)

The Lock Master^p¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 9-2| J: A Mullen| T: M Appleby| OR: 70

8/1

Course regular who has won seven times here with the last of those wins coming over a year ago off a 5lb higher mark. Not shown much on both starts this winter and can race in a very lazy manner.

Form: 613635

(1)

Rightway¹²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: L Morris| T: A W Carroll| OR: 68

11/1

Newcomer to the surface but his sire (Cockney Rebel) has a good record with his progeny on this surface. Winner at Sandown in July off a 3lb lower mark over a mile and ran a sound third at Kempton last time out at Kempton over the same trip. Not the most consistent and steps up in trip here.

Form: 8610-36

(5)

Samphire Coast^v¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: Noel Garbutt⁽³⁾| T: D Shaw| OR: 60

2/1

Has taken well to fibresand and won over a mile in January off a 5lb lower mark. Good third off this mark (60) at Southwell last time, when a little unlucky in-running and finishing well. Mark left the same and with the increased trip looking sure to suit one of the principals in this.

Form: 134771

Forecasts

Samphire Coast (2/1), Storm King (10/3), Footlight (9/2), Ansaab (9/2), The Lock Master (8/1), Rightway (11/1)

Both SAMPHIRE COAST and Footlight know what it takes to win on this surface and represent the most progressive form here. Samphire Coast looks sure to be suited by the increased trip and as does Footlight and it’s the recent experience of the former that just tilts the balance in his favour. Storm King has yet to run here but the handicapper is giving him a chance but it would be Rightway who held more interest given his breeding although that pair will have to show more to beat the two that are proven on fibresand. 1. Samphire Coast 2. Footlight 3. Rightway