Courage Best Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 2m 28.48s

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Selected odds by:

(2)

Doctor Jazz¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R Hannon| OR: 70

7/4

Scored at Windsor last month over similar trip off 4lb lower mark but disappointing last two outings off current mark and has point to prove. Top apprentice gets the leg up though.

Form: 7-60179

(7)

Highlife Flyer²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Nicola Currie| T: M R Channon| OR: 70

8/1

Medicean gelding who has been generally disappointing and clearly failed to stay two miles last time at Goodwood. Previous third at Lingfield suggested he may win a race but is down 4lb after last effort but is hard to enthuse over.

Form: 8537

(3)

Jaquar^b1,t1³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Adam J McNamara| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 65

7/1

First time blinkers and tongue-tie for this full brother to listed winner Justineo who makes his handicap debut here. Hasn't looked anything special on first three starts but represents top yard and has to be respected.

Form: 726

(1)

Gemini⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Watson| T: C Hills| OR: 64

3/1

Hinted at a little ability in first three starts and seemed to enjoy fast ground when fair third over C&D in June. Didn't run well on AW only starts since but worth a second glance back here with top apprentice booked.

Form: 7-8539

(4)

Altaira^b¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: Poppy Bridgwater⁽³⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 47| C

3/1

Ex-French gelding whose two wins in Britain have come at Bath over 1m2f , including one on firm ground last time out. 4lb out of the handicap and hasn't appeared to be crying out for step up in trip but is in form and likes the track.

Form: 750751

(6)

Lady Natasha²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Seamus Cronin⁽³⁾| T: James Grassick| OR: 45

50/1

15-race maiden who managed to place for Karl Burke last term but has shown precious little for new connections this season. 6lb wrong at the weights and looks up against it.

Form: 7-66580

(5)

Miniature Daffodil^p¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Jane Elliott| T: G Harris| OR: 49

33/1

Maiden on turf but has won twice on AW at Chelmsford over 1m2f. Hard to enthuse over given lack of success on turf and is 2lb out of the handicap. more needed.

Form: 543604

Forecasts

Doctor Jazz (7/4), Gemini (3/1), Altaira (3/1), Jaquar (7/1), Highlife Flyer (8/1), Miniature Daffodil (33/1), Lady Natasha (50/1)

Just a modest event to get proceedings under way but a chance for the filly GEMINI to build on her fair run over C&D two starts ago with the talented Jason Watson booked to ride. Handicap debutant Jaguar may prove the biggest danger as he is open to some improvement and could go well if taking to the first-time blinkers. Top weight Doctor Jazz is no great shakes but should be competitive at this level, while Altaira won over 1m2f here last time and surprisingly steps up in trip. The rest look much of a muchness and have it to do.