20:45 Southwell

Wednesday 13 September 2023

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

William Hill Epic Value Racing League Race 42 Handicap

Off time: 20:46 | Winning time: 2m 35.0s

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Selected odds by:

(12)

Enemy^t⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Rhys Clutterbuck| T: Ian Williams| OR: 106| D

16/1

50/1, ran better than for a while when third of 14 in handicap at Haydock (14f, good to firm) 4 days ago. Makes tapeta debut and would be no certainty to reproduce that form here.

Form: 855003

(6)

Percy Shelley¹⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100

33/1

Useful performer who was successful in 2022 in maiden at Longchamp, and minor events at same course and at Chantilly. 14/10, last of 6 to Aude in minor event at Saint-Cloud on reappearance back in March and has since left S. Wattel (€25,000). Makes handicap/all-weather bow.

Form: 11213-6

(8)

Scampi¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 97| D

5/1

Latest win at Ascot in August. 14/1, shaped as if still in good form when tenth of 22 in handicap at York (13.8f, good to firm) 18 days ago, travelling better than most. Could well feature having his first all-weather start of the year.

Form: 652610

(11)

Star Harbour^v²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: B A Curtis| T: A McGuinness| OR: 96

15/2

Latest win at Chepstow in August. 5/1, shaped as if still in good form when sixth of 12 in handicap at Windsor (10f, good to firm) 27 days ago, finishing with running left after snatched up over 1f out. Back up in trip. Makes tapeta debut.

Form: 95-8816

(7)

Soto Sizzler^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Levey| T: G & J Moore| OR: 95| D

33/1

12/1, turned in his best effort of the season when second of 4 in handicap at Goodwood (12f, soft) 17 days ago. Makes tapeta debut. Task is to now back that up given he hasn't been the most consistent in recent years.

Form: 07-0302

(2)

Saratoga Gold^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 93| D

13/2

80/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, found things too competitive from his current mark when fifteenth of 22 in handicap at York (13.8f, good to firm) 18 days ago. Makes tapeta debut.

Form: 3U1690

(3)

Graignes^h1⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: P Mulrennan| T: George Baker| OR: 92

11/1

2 wins from 5 runs this year, latest at Sandown in August. 10/1, undone by a 9 lb rise in the weights when third of 11 in handicap at Wolverhampton (9.5f) 6 days ago. Up in trip. Hood on 1st time. Expected to give another good account.

Form: 5-41123

(10)

Onesmoothoperator¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 90| C

11/2

Course winner. Fifteen runs since last win in 2021. 15/2, bounced back to form when second of 13 in handicap at Newcastle (10.2f) 13 days ago, no match for winner.

Form: 034972

(1)

Regal Empire³²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Josephine Gordon| T: J Tate| OR: 96| C| D

9/2

Dual course winner earlier this year. 13/2, career best when winning 10-runner handicap at Ascot (12f, good) 32 days ago, suited by step back up in trip. Improving all the time recently and has to be taken seriously back at this venue.

Form: 127331

(5)

Valsad²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Saffie Osborne| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 87| D

4/1

11/1, got back on the up when second of 13 in handicap at Newbury (12f, good) 25 days ago, going down only narrowly to a progressive 3-y-o. Makes tapeta debut. Shortlist material.

Form: 2143-62

(4)

The Thunderer^p1⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Stefano Cherchi| T: S C Williams| OR: 86| D

80/1

Latest win at Chester in June. Eighth of 11 in handicap at Wolverhampton (14f, 33/1) 6 days ago, not ideally placed. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 812148

(9)

Protected Guest⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-3| J: L Morris| T: G G Margarson| OR: 82| CD

40/1

Unreliable sort. C&D winner. Sixteen runs since last win in 2022. Last of 7 in handicap at Ascot (12f, good to soft, 66/1) 47 days ago, turning it in. Dropped 3 lb but can only be watched given the concerns about his attitude.

Form: 302827

Forecasts

Valsad (4/1), Regal Empire (9/2), Scampi (5/1), Onesmoothoperator (11/2), Saratoga Gold (13/2), Star Harbour (15/2), Graignes (11/1), Enemy (16/1), Percy Shelley (33/1), Soto Sizzler (33/1), Protected Guest (40/1), The Thunderer (80/1)

A fiercely competitive concluding contest to Racing League 2023 and the one who makes most appeal is VALSAD, who went down only narrowly to a progressive 3-y-o at Newbury last month and provided he takes to the surface (makes all-weather debut), Harry & Roger Charlton's charge can double his tally. Regal Empire won twice at this track earlier in the year and arriving on the back of Shergar Cup success, he rates the main danger. Onesmoothoperator and Scampi round off the shortlist.