17:00 Chepstow

Monday 25 June 2018

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

Want More Leads, Think Reach Local Handicap

Off time: 17:06 | Winning time: 2m 6.04s

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Selected odds by:

(8)

Climb Aboard¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: H Morrison| OR: 76

11/1

Placed in two auction maidens despite showing signs of inexperience. His dam stayed 1m4f so there must be hopes he will improve for the extra 2f on his handicap debut.

Form: 0423

(5)

Cheeky Rascal^p¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Harry Bentley| T: R Hannon| OR: 75

9/2

Cheekpieces gained a response when going down by a nose at Goodwood. 2lb higher here but he ran 1000 Guineas winner Billesdon Brook to a head last year, a flattering run which shows he would prefer softer ground.

Form: 5230-92

(6)

Marble Bar¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Nicola Currie⁽³⁾| T: H Candy| OR: 72

7/2

Difficult to settle but has acquitted himself well since switching to handicaps. Needs a strong pace and that may depend on Flere Imsaho repeating his latest tactics.

Form: 6582-45

(1)

Juneau¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 71| D

13/2

Beat Flare Imsaho in a low grade race at Bath. Beaten twice in this grade since off similar marks.

Form: 022140

(2)

Groveman¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Dane O'Neill| T: C Hills| OR: 70

6/1

Had some fair form as a juvenile without achieving enough to warrant his initial handicap mark. Gradually dropping towards a more realistic mark and this looks a more manageable trip than last time.

Form: 465-84

(9)

Gravina²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: M Harley| T: A King| OR: 68

3/1

Third in a Leicester maiden to an 85-rated winner. The runner-up scored next time to earn a mark of 79. She would be expected to go close on her handicap debut given a generous initial rating and the likelihood of improvement to come.

Form: 0-53

(7)

Flere Imsaho³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Watson⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 65

12/1

Just denied by Juneau at Bath on stable debut when having the best of things up front. 3lb higher and raised in class so some work to do.

Form: 030-2

(4)

Island Court¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: George Wood| T: H Main| OR: 62

14/1

Beginning to look more favourably treated, however his last two runs have not produced any significant improvement and this looks a good race.

Form: 56-4506

Non-Runners

(3)

Harbour Pilot³¹

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: D Loughnane J: Harry Bentley

Forecasts

Gravina (3/1), Marble Bar (7/2), Cheeky Rascal (9/2), Groveman (6/1), Juneau (13/2), Harbour Pilot (7/1), Climb Aboard (11/1), Flere Imsaho (12/1), Island Court (14/1)

A case can be made for most in this but GRAVINA holds the strongest claims judged on her Leicester third. That form looks better than her opening mark suggests and she has room to improve again over this longer distance. Climb Aboard and Harbour Pilot are bred to stay this far and should build on recent solid efforts, but Groveman looks too high in the weights and Cheeky Rascal would prefer some rain.