19:00 Windsor

Tuesday 16 June 2020

All17:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Handicap

Off time: 19:04 | Winning time: 1m 11.87s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Major Valentine²³²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: Ciaran McKee| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 92| D

50/1

Veteran retains plenty of ability and is hard to catch on a going day, usually at his beloved Chepstow, where he enjoys the undulations; not seen out since October though and likely to need a run or two to oil the gears.

Form: 311100-

(2)

Dream Today^t¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Nicola Currie| T: J A Osborne| OR: 91| D

14/1

Performed with credit out in Meydan this spring and given he was fitter than a few, disappointing he couldn't do better at Newmarket a fortnight ago; tongue tie given a try now, and on balance, others preferred.

Form: 5-22688

(4)

Junius Brutus¹¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Finley Marsh⁽³⁾| T: R M Beckett| OR: 91| D

7/1

Have to go back to 2018 to find last win and not the most consistent around, but put in a couple of good efforts at Kempton over the winter (6f), form which gives him a chance; yard continue in good form.

Form: 8725-52

(1)

Count Otto^b,h¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Watson| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 88| D

7/1

Tricky to win with but can't be faulted for effort and consistency, and might have got there in another couple of strides at Newmarket a fortnight ago; repeat of that gives him a solid chance, although might have been better drawn.

Form: 7-52433

(8)

Ice Age²³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Georgia Dobie⁽⁵⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 88| CD

11/2

Capable of high-class handicap foirm when on song and has a very good record at this track (four wins in 11 starts); starting to fall back to a very good looking handicap mark as well, and has won after a break; dangerous to dismiss.

Form: 072580-

(6)

Wedding Date⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 86| D

20/1

Winner at Newmarket off this mark last summer, so no qualms from a handicapping point of view, but didn't show a lot on reappearance last week and might need another run or two to achieve peak fitness.

Form: 33360-8

(7)

Luxor³⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: M Harley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 84| D

6/1

Looked like making up into a good handicapper when successful at Newbury back in 2018 but only seen three times since then, and there's clearly been a few issues; shaped like the ability was still there last time and dangerous to rule out.

Form: 131/006-

(9)

Yimou²²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: George Downing| T: D K Ivory| OR: 84| BF| CD

6/1

Rattled off a hat-trick of wins last summer (in lesser grade) and held his form well after that, although found life a bit more difficult; C&D winner on quick ground so likely conditions fine, and should run his race it fit for reappearance,

Form: 111444-

(10)

Chairmanoftheboard¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: M R Channon| OR: 83| D

10/3

Winner on debut in 2018 but hasn't repeated the dose since then; never in the hunt at Newmarket two weeks ago but ran on late for third, travelled well; could take a hand if the gaps come late on.

Form: 0544-23

(3)

Tenax¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁵⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 83| D

9/1

Winner off a 3lb lower mark last season but found life harder off revised mark after that; some good efforts in defeat and unlucky not to get a bit closer at Newcastle at the beginning of the month; not best drawn but has chances.

Form: 32525-7

Non-Runners

(11)

Betsey Trotter⁹

Weight: 9-8| Age: 5

T: D O'Meara J: K Shoemark

Forecasts

Chairmanoftheboard (10/3), Ice Age (11/2), Yimou (6/1), Luxor (6/1), Junius Brutus (7/1), Count Otto (7/1), Tenax (9/1), Betsey Trotter (12/1), Dream Today (14/1), Wedding Date (20/1), Major Valentine (50/1)

Count Otto ran well at Newmarket on his latest start and should be thereabouts, but predicting when he's going to put his head in front is tricky, and it might be worth giving the very well hadicapped ICE AGE a try. He has to win a race from his current mark, you feel, and with plen ty in his favour here, he could bounce back to form. In truth, this is a very open race though, and cases can be made for plenty, with Chairmanoftheboard and Tenax top of the list.