Whitford's Cafe Bar & Lounge Handicap

Off time: 16:51 | Winning time: 3m 6.67s

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(6)

Diocletian¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| OR: 85| BF

5/4

Gone close with plenty of juice in the ground the last twice and set to encounter ideal conditions once more. Stays the trip well and merits serious consideration despite having to concede weight all round.

Form: 6-46922

(2)

Darksideoftarnside^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Watson| T: Ian Williams| OR: 80

6/1

On an attractive mark at present and ran encouragingly at Sandown last month. Showed the benefit of a couple of runs when winning on his third start last season, so again merits a betting check this time too.

Form: 1646-85

(5)

Never Surrender³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 78

10/1

Faced some stiff tests this season and most probably will appreciate this ease in grade. Also given a chance by the handicapper but not been at his peak so far this term.

Form: 62-0060

(3)

Goscote¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Charles Bishop| T: H Candy| OR: 72| D

7/2

Won with a determined effort at Nottingham on her penultimate start but never really looked happy after being hampered last time out. She's better than that but does have something to prove now (runs from the same mark).

Form: 0-3217

(1)

General Zoff⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Tom Marquand| T: W R Muir| OR: 70

11/2

Made the frame in all three starts since winning on the AW at Lingfield last September but not seen out since fishing third of nine at Salisbury in June. Stays well and versatile regarding the ground but is 8lb above last winning mark on turf.

Form: 221-223

(7)

Kashagan^b¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: David Egan| T: A Watson| OR: 79

7/1

Made a belated but winning start on 3-Y-O debut at Newcastle in May and back to form with a near miss at Thirsk earlier this month. Still open to more improvement and going the right way. Shortlist material at least.

Form: 1502

Non-Runners

(4)

Fannie By Gaslight²

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: M R Channon J: Scott McCullagh

Forecasts

Diocletian (5/4), Goscote (7/2), General Zoff (11/2), Darksideoftarnside (6/1), Kashagan (7/1), Fannie By Gaslight (8/1), Never Surrender (10/1)

A tough one to call as Diocletian goes well on the predicted ground and has faced stiffer tests than this already this season; while Darksideoftarnside is following a similar build up to a win for him last September and he merits respect now his fitness has been topped up. However, there could be more to come from GOSCOTE, who won on well on similar ground on her penultimate start and was unlucky as she struggled to get back on an even keel after being hampered entering the final half-mile last time out. Granted a trouble-free run, she'll be a different proposition this time. The three-year-old, Kashagan, is unexposed and also has to merit a betting check.