Witheford Equine Barrier Trials 2nd July Handicap

Off time: 21:00 | Winning time: 2m 32.14s

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(5)

Young Merlin⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Watson| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 72

4/1

Shaped as if better for the run over 1m2f on his handicap debut at Goodwood; may yet improve. Withdrawn at Newbury recently (soft ground); now reverts to the AW stepped up to 1m4f for the first time, mark still looks tough enough.

Form: 955-6

(4)

Natsovia⁹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Nicola Currie| T: J A Osborne| OR: 71| D

8/1

Off the mark on handicap debut at Wolverhampton (suited by a decent pace) looking as though further than 1m4f would suit. Failed to get the same scenario last time over the same C&D; really needs a decent gallop to show her best at this trip.

Form: 05-215

(3)

Mondain⁶⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 70| BF

5/2

Well backed on both his handicap starts but has come up short on both occasions over 1m4f (AW) which may well be a function of his handicap mark (looks harsh). Gelded since those runs the handicapper keeps him on the same mark; more needed.

Form: 636-33

(6)

Fares Alpha⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Cieren Fallon⁽⁷⁾| T: M Botti| OR: 70

12/1

Needs to leave his run at Redcar last time (hooded first-time) well behind having failed to step forward on his previous form. Went with little fluency and always behind; still to win a race, one of the lesser lights in this off a career-low mark.

Form: 644-49

(2)

Sawasdee^p1³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 68

7/4

Up in trip on his handicap debut having had just the three runs so far (best performance on the AW); not disgraced on turf last time at Salisbury. May yet do better and in this sphere with cheekpieces on for the first-time; note any market interest.

Form: 7-35

(7)

Twenty Years On^p1⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Finley Marsh⁽³⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 67| D

5/1

Now moved to the AW after disappointing on soft turf last time at Sandown (1m6f) having looked an improved sort on his second handicap start (won at Salisbury; 1m4f). Cheekpieces now on; there was some promise in his juvenile AW runs last year.

Form: 305-717

Non-Runners

(1)

Barb's Prince¹⁸

Weight: 8-5| Age: 3

T: Ian Williams J: Gabriele Malune

Forecasts

Sawasdee (7/4), Mondain (5/2), Young Merlin (4/1), Twenty Years On (5/1), Natsovia (8/1), Fares Alpha (12/1), Barb's Prince (25/1)

The fact that Mondain has been well found in the market on both his last starts suggests that he’s capable of better than he’s shown so far but the handicapper has failed to release the brake and that makes him vulnerable again. Young Merlin looks capable of more but he to features on a tough mark and it may pay to side with handicap debutant SAWASDEE especially now he steps up in trip with Silvestre De Sousa booked. Natsovia is another to be interested in but she really does need a strong pace to be successful and that’s not guaranteed here.