Smart Money's On Coral Handicap

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 2m 13.06s

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(2)

Forest Ranger²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 110| D

15/2

Won Chester's Huxley Stakes for the second year running in May but three below par efforts since with two of them here and after his last at Ayr again latest he has to be treated with a degree of caution.

Form: 721666

(5)

Big Country^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: M Crehan⁽⁷⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 104| CD

14/1

Over a year since his Pontefract Listed win but ran to a similar level at that grade latest when third at Ayr. Handicap remains quite restrictive but could make the frame.

Form: 249543

(6)

Johnny Drama²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 99| D

2/1

Disappointing at Newbury latest after running really well in first two starts for this yard and especially his C&D second. Perhaps he can bounce back from that effort here so not ruled out and fact he won on yielding to soft for Ger Lyons is a plus.

Form: 110620

(3)

Dark Vision^v¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 100| C

11/2

Group 2 Vintage Stakes win at two now a distant memory as he's winless in 10 races since. Sixth in the Cambridgeshire latest however a sound effort and could be poised to go close if handling this longer trip.

Form: 840656

(7)

Victory Command²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Jason Hart| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 99| D

20/1

Prolific winner but generally well held in three starts since most recent win at Chelmsford in August and probably isn't quite well handicapped enough for race like this.

Form: 541549

(1)

Coolagh Forest³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 96| CD

7/2

Career-best effort when winning over C&D here latest dispelling any doubts that he stays the trip. Upped by 6lb today but still firmly in the mix now and the biggest danger to Harrovian.

Form: 116981

(4)

Harrovian^b²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 96| D

4/1

Overcame a troubled passage at Yarnouth latest when bursting through on the rail late on to win going away. This is deeper but open to any amount of improvement and trainer's record with three-year-old handicaps reason enough to row in.

Form: 221331

Forecasts

Johnny Drama (2/1), Coolagh Forest (7/2), Harrovian (4/1), Dark Vision (11/2), Forest Ranger (15/2), Big Country (14/1), Victory Command (20/1)

Just a couple of weeks on since Lord North's Cambridgeshire win HARROVIAN in the same colours can give John Gosden another big handicap win with his success at Yarmouth latest looking the tip of the iceberg as to what he can achieve going forward. Coolagh Forest looks the biggest danger after his impressive C&D score latest. Also on the shortlist is Dark Vision whose frustrating run looks likely to come to an end soon now.