17:45 Leicester

Thursday 29 June 2023

All17:1217:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Hope - Sponsored By Hilton - Jo Metcalf Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 17:45 | Winning time: 2m 33.28s

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Selected odds by:

(2)

Prince Abu¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Dylan Hogan| T: D Shaw| OR: 55

14/1

6/1, eleventh of 12 in handicap at Southwell (14.1f) 16 days ago, slowly away. Chance on old form but struggling at present.

Form: 367740

(4)

Gearing's Point¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: George Bass⁽³⁾| T: Miss S West| OR: 54| D

5/2

2 wins from 4 runs this year. 5/6, didn't need to improve to win 7-runner handicap at Yarmouth (11.5f, good to firm) 15 days ago, very much having run of race. Should remain competitive.

Form: 67-1331

(1)

Blazer Two²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Callum Hutchinson⁽³⁾| T: M Scudamore| OR: 54| CD

5/2

C&D winner. 7/2, respectable sixth of 13 in handicap at Windsor (11.4f, good to firm) 24 days ago. Goes well here and should put up a bold bid under a positive ride.

Form: 7508-16

(7)

Bay Of Naples^t1¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: T Eaves| T: M Herrington| OR: 54| D

12/1

Fifteen runs since last win in 2021. 10/1, last of 12 in handicap at Southwell (14.1f) 16 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time. Others more persuasive.

Form: 752920

(5)

Lailah¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Shepherd| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 52

7/1

6/1, 1¼ lengths fourth of 7 to Gearing's Point in handicap at Yarmouth (11.5f, good to firm) 15 days ago. Still relatively unexposed, so could build on that.

Form: 560-764

(3)

Zoffany Portrait^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Mollie Phillips⁽³⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 49

16/1

18/1, eighth of 10 in handicap at Kempton (11f) 15 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Creditable effort penultimate outing, so not completely dismissed.

Form: 004768

(8)

Rita Rana¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Gina Mangan⁽³⁾| T: A Wintle| OR: 47

9/2

One win from 21 Flat runs. Sixth of 15 in minor event (16/1) at Windsor (11.4f, good to firm) 10 days ago. Needs to do more.

Form: 362-896

(6)

Foursome¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Luke Catton⁽⁵⁾| T: Olly Williams| OR: 46

12/1

Remains a maiden after 16 Flat runs. 9/2, respectable third of 8 in handicap at Yarmouth (14.1f, good to firm) 14 days ago. Should give another good account but obviously hard to win with.

Form: 696453

Non-Runners

(9)

Owens Lad³¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 5

T: D Loughnane J: Laura Pearson

Forecasts

Gearing's Point (5/2), Blazer Two (5/2), Rita Rana (9/2), Owens Lad (5/1), Lailah (7/1), Bay Of Naples (12/1), Foursome (12/1), Prince Abu (14/1), Zoffany Portrait (16/1)

BLAZER TWO has been successful on his last two visits to this track and he makes most appeal in an open race. In-form Gearing's Point is an obvious danger and Owens Lad, who was behind the selection last time, can't be dismissed.