Pure Storage Handicap

Off time: 20:10 | Winning time: 1m 42.04s

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(4)

Pactolus^h,t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S C Williams| OR: 84| D

12/1

Useful handicapper on the AW/turf (has a much lower turf mark) whose two turf runs this year have been well below-par (with and without his usual hood). Failed to impress over 1m here last time; looks vulnerable to less-exposed types in current form.

Form: 130378

(7)

Dragons Tail^p²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 82| D

20/1

Gelded and undergone wind surgery prior to his first start this year and started the season below his last winning mark. Failed to take advantage of those traits though in four runs, now tried over 1m having never travelled last time, old form needed

Form: 79-9758

(2)

Masked Identity¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Sebastian Woods⁽⁵⁾| T: S L Keightley| OR: 80| D

11/2

Dual AW scorer earlier in the year before finding it tough going switched to handicaps on turf when with Kevin Frost. Returned to form down in the weights on his stable debut when second last time out at Ascot; up 2lb, one to be interested in.

Form: 121602

(3)

Cheer The Title⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: L Morris| T: Tom Clover| OR: 80

20/1

Lightly-raced sort (yet to win); returned from ten-months off for his handicap debut at Wetherby (took strong hold; hopeless task from track position). Kept on the same mark so faces another testing task but not totally written off.

Form: 362-6

(1)

Let Rip²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: K Shoemark| T: H Candy| OR: 79| D

5/2

Winner of a 1m AW novice event at the end of last year he shaped well on his handicap debut when returning off a six-month absence again on the AW (1m, Kempton). Not assisted by a wide draw (finished midfield); open to progress, first turf start.

Form: 4/21-5

(6)

Motawaj¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 82| D

1/1

Produced a convincing success having looked fitter for his reappearance run over 1m at Kempton last time against his own age group. Now meet his elders with 8lb more to carry although he's still unexposed having won with plenty in hand.

Form: 663-31

(5)

Sea Sovereign^h⁴⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Robbie Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 69

25/1

Flat maiden who comes here to make his stable debut off the back of a significant absence. Hood used (first-time) on his last run is retained but has an awful lot to prove in this company; others are far more enticing.

Form: 3548/0-

Forecasts

Motawaj (1/1), Let Rip (5/2), Masked Identity (11/2), Pactolus (12/1), Cheer The Title (20/1), Dragons Tail (20/1), Sea Sovereign (25/1)

Since 2010 all bar one running of this contest has gone the way of the three-year-olds but they only have one representative this time to hold onto that record in Motawaj. Roger Varian’s charge is likely to make a bold show to uphold the record of his age group but he is back on turf and up 8lb. That may just present the older horses in the shape of MASKED IDENTITY with a chance of landing this prize, the 5yo having shown plenty of verve at Ascot last time; he’s still fairly unexposed for his age. Let Rip can’t be ignored although he does have to prove himself on turf; the other quartet having something to prove.