Adnams Innovation Handicap

Off time: 17:07 | Winning time: 1m 41.25s

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(2)

Showboating³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: M Harley| T: J Balding| OR: 85| D

16/1

Veteran 100 race-plus campaigner who has performed admirably to win three of his last five starts, most recently when heroically overcoming a troublesome wide draw to score at Carlisle (1m, good to soft). Ensuing 7lb rise may just prove too much, however.

Form: 013611

(4)

Don't Give Up⁵²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Martin Lane| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 89

7/4

Likeable sort on paper who was fancied to make a winning start on the AW at Kempton (7f) last month and duly delivered with ease. Plenty more to come with this longer trip sure to suit and opening handicap mark looks exploitable.

Form: 1

(3)

Brilliant Vanguard^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 78

16/1

Won twice over 6f from his first four starts but it's now 12 runs without a win, despite running one of his best races when second in first-time cheekpieces at Ascot (1m, good) last time. Clearly holds no secrets.

Form: 2-04582

(6)

Pillar Of Society²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 86| D

7/2

Had a couple of near-misses to his name prior to comfortably opening his account at the sixth attempt at Windsor (1m, soft) last month. Just touched off from a 7lb higher mark at Bath (1m, firm) next time but further 4lb rise makes life difficult.

Form: 22-6212

(1)

To Dibba²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 84| BF

7/4

Leicester maiden winner (7f, soft) at the third attempt and began life in handicaps with a solid second-place effort at Yarmouth (1m, good) when not enjoying the smoothest of passages. Open to improvement and a major player here with the stable going well.

Form: 5-212

(5)

White Tower⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Harry Bentley| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 77

20/1

Winner of a Ripon maiden as a juvenile and contested the Group Two Superlative Stakes here last summer but has evidently gone the wrong way since. Beat only one home when tried over 1m2f at Epsom last time and not hard to pass over.

Form: 365-464

Forecasts

Don't Give Up (7/4), To Dibba (7/4), Pillar Of Society (7/2), Brilliant Vanguard (16/1), Showboating (16/1), White Tower (20/1)

The admirable veteran Showboating enters this race in winning form and commands respect along with the progressive pair Pillar of Society and To Dibba. But, there was a lot to like about the way DON'T GIVE UP justified market confidence on his debut at Kempton and it would be no surprise if he was to up to defying a mark of 89 on his handicap/turf debut.