Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:16 | Winning time: 3m 4.55s

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(2)

Discay⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-13| J: Ella McCain| T: P A Kirby| OR: 72| C

40/1

Reverts to the Flat having had a consistent season over hurdles (won twice) but this will be his first start in this sphere for three years; has won here over 1m4f. Looking at his hurdles rating doesn't look that well handicapped; could be found want

Form: 321977/

(3)

Country'n'western¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Jessica Cooley| T: R Eddery| OR: 70| CD

7/2

Form figures here read 122 with the win coming over C&D; his two other runs were over 1m4f (trip looks too short). Run respectably of late (fourth in a 0-80 last time); should get involved but failed to win off 70 plus marks before.

Form: 12-5274

(5)

Blame Me Forever^b⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Stefano Cherchi⁽⁵⁾| T: D E Cantillon| OR: 67

25/1

Improved for going handicapping off what looked a stiff mark when winning at Chelmsford for Marco Botti over an extended 1m5f. Well held on all AW starts since and over hurdles last time; hard to make a case on her first try on Fibresand.

Form: 1470-78

(4)

Aphaea³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Marco Ghiani⁽⁵⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 63

6/1

Has a rather eclectic background (successful in point-to-points) but has won on the AW last year over an extended 1m on Tapeta. Placed off this mark on turf (stepped up in trip; 1m4f); first run on Fibresand; market to tell the story.

Form: 607/137-

(7)

Katie Gale^v³³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Sean Kirrane⁽³⁾| T: R Brisland| OR: 62| CD

6/1

Five times a course winner around here (twice over C&D) her last win here coming over 2m back in January in a 0-60 affair. Three runs since then have all come over further but she looks a little below her best at the moment.

Form: 03-1854

(6)

Seasearch^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: William Carver| T: A M Balding| OR: 62| BF| CD

2/1

Already a C&D winner beating a subsequent dual course winner when dropped into a 0-60 proving how well he does at this track. Hasn't really fired since that win including two runs here (below-par last time); mark fine though and could bounce back.

Form: 631043

(1)

High Command^b¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Grace McEntee⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 61| CD

7/2

Has won here twice when with Roger Varian off much higher marks; not won since those days but is starting to look more like his old self. Second over 2m here last time to a thriving winner; last chance off this mark (raised 4lb after this run).

Form: 766642

Forecasts

Seasearch (2/1), High Command (7/2), Country'n'western (7/2), Aphaea (6/1), Katie Gale (6/1), Blame Me Forever (25/1), Discay (40/1)

Quite a mixed bag go to post for this staying event with HIGH COMMAND looking as though he’s working his way back to the sort of form that saw him successful here off higher marks in the past, he shaped really well here last time against an obvious improver. Seasearch at one stage looked as though he would be a Fibresand monster but he’s lost his way a little of late although his yard are going well and he could bounce back. Aphaea has a very mixed background but any market support should be noted while neither Discay or Country’N’Western look that well handicapped but can’t be totally written off.