17:00 Yarmouth

Tuesday 1 August 2017

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3017:0017:35

Shirley Gill Memorial Handicap

Off time: 17:01 | Winning time: 1m 11.03s

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Selected odds by:

(10)

Captain Colby^h1³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: R Kingscote| T: E Walker| OR: 95| D

9/2

Winner of the Portland Handicap at Doncaster off this mark and best effort since came there in April. Poor on three runs since and trainer opts for a hood. Hard to fancy at present.

Form: 00-2000

(2)

Barrington^t¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: S J Drowne| T: C Hills| OR: 95

13/2

A 6L victory at Windsor in May had connections aiming high on his next few starts before dropping him to this level last time. This looks a shade more competitive but conditions should not be an issue.

Form: 416-603

(9)

Huntsmans Close^h¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: George Downing| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 89| CD

11/1

Winner of four races including the Ayr Silver Cup in 2014 and was one of the leading fancies for last year's Wokingham. Narrowly denied by Highland Acclaim at Epsom last time but may turn the tables on a track where he is yet to run a bad race. Proved he handles cut having romped home in heavy ground here as a juvenile and arrives with the stable's horses going well.

Form: 308-682

(6)

Highland Acclaim^h¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: S H James| T: D O'Meara| OR: 89| D

8/1

Specialist at this trip, though all five of his wins have been on good or faster ground, which is a concern for potential backers. Will have to work harder to confirm Epsom form with Huntsmans Close with conditions more favourable to that rival.

Form: 960271

(7)

Victory Angel¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: S De Sousa| T: R Varian| OR: 90| D

4/1

Out of his depth on his last two starts but one to fear dropped in grade. Trainer has utilised today's rider to good effect this year with the combination 16-45. Sire's stock prefer faster ground but worth noting if the market vibes are positive.

Form: 31-1800

(3)

Gulliver^t,v1⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J Mitchell| T: H Palmer| OR: 89

5/1

Winner of a hot York maiden last autumn but has failed to go on from there. Looked one to avoid on his latest start and he has been gelded since. New headgear applied but he is one to watch until showing more signs of reliability.

Form: 431-740

(8)

Syrian Pearl¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Ted Durcan| T: C F Wall| OR: 82| D

8/1

Picked up three races in 2016 and is now down to her last winning mark. Handles any ground but arrives needing to improve on a poor run in lower grade last time.

Form: 911-976

(5)

Rosabelle^h1³²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Joshua Bryan⁽⁵⁾| T: A Bailey| OR: 84| D

12/1

Handles cut in the ground but has yet to reach the standards she set last year. Handicapper has given her more of a chance, but she remains a risk with the hood confirming recent impressions that she may have issues.

Form: 251-664

(4)

Fang²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: M Dwyer| T: W Jarvis| OR: 76| CD

10/1

Won for both Brian Meehan and then over C&D for this trainer last season, though he was exposed by the end of the campaign. Has been dropped back to a competitive-looking mark again after two defeats this term but he does not look up to this grade.

Form: 7633-89

Non-Runners

(1)

Jordan Sport¹⁸

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: D M Simcock J: Louis Steward

Forecasts

Victory Angel (4/1), Captain Colby (9/2), Gulliver (5/1), Jordan Sport (6/1), Barrington (13/2), Highland Acclaim (8/1), Syrian Pearl (8/1), Fang (10/1), Huntsmans Close (11/1), Rosabelle (12/1)

Victory Angel catches the eye with Silvestre de Sousa booked to ride but he may want better ground than forecast and that tilts us towards HUNTSMANS CLOSE. His latest run suggests he is approaching his best and conditions will hold no fears. He has won and made the frame a further three times in four visits to this track and that makes him likely to reverse recent form with Highland Acclaim. Jordan Sport may get the run of the race up front and looks a good candidate to make the frame at least.