'Up On The Roof' Handicap

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 1m 47.5s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(5)

General Macarthur⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: George Buckell⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Simcock| OR: 95

7/1

Winner of a couple of races for Aidan O'Brien. Finished fourth in a Group Three last July and that did little for his handicap mark. Has made late headway in a couple of races at Meydan during the winter and his mark is beginning to look more realistic.

Form: 780-975

(3)

Makzeem¹⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: K Shoemark⁽³⁾| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 88

15/8

Half-brother to Al Kazeem so looks the type to improve as a four-year-old. Winner over 1m2f but not disgraced over this trip at Newmarket last time. Yard are 6-17 in past fortnight and 12-65 with break returners in May.

Form: 22102-2

(6)

Ballard Down^v1³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Harry Bentley| T: W J Knight| OR: 85

7/2

Runner-up at Kempton on return from a nine month break. The winner has let the form down since. Has something to find at the weights but tried in a visor for the first time and should get a decent pace to race off.

Form: 51/454-2

(2)

Bold Prediction¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Thomas Brown| T: E Walker| OR: 85

11/1

Two disappointing runs on turf and fibresand have persuaded the handicapper to drop him a few pounds. Was previously only a length behind the useful Qaffaal at Chelmsford and a reproduction of that effort would be good enough.

Form: 343463

(1)

Mikmak¹⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: M Dwyer| T: W R Muir| OR: 84

12/1

Winner of one race from 12 starts and up in class having finished third at Kempton before Christmas. Looks held on form by Makzeem and Bold Prediction.

Form: 79203-6

(4)

Count Montecristo¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 84

3/1

Two best career efforts have come over 9.5f here including when runner-up to subsequent winner Amazement in February. Not disgraced at Ripon last time behind the highly regarded UAE Prince. Looks set to try and make all again but may face competition from Bold Prediction.

Form: 00-1234

Forecasts

Makzeem (15/8), Count Montecristo (3/1), Ballard Down (7/2), General Macarthur (7/1), Bold Prediction (11/1), Mikmak (12/1)

Makzeem will certainly be winning good races this season. His yard are off to a good start and he will probably prove better than this. The question arises as to what his optimum trip will be but it is almost certainly going to be a stiffer mile than this as a minimum. There should be a good pace for this with Bold Prediction and COUNT MONTECRISTO in the lineup. The former has some solid AW form and the handicapper has given him a chance in this. COUNT MONTECRISTO was a surprise winner here in February. He has improved since to finish second to a subsequent winner and had that same rival behind in a hot handicap at Ripon when fading inside the final furlong. His style of running should make him tough to catch over this shorter trip.