19:15 Doncaster

Saturday 18 May 2024

All16:5717:3518:0718:4219:1519:5020:2020:50

Free Digital Racecard At raceday-ready.com Handicap

Off time: 19:16 | Winning time: 3m 7.57s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Caustic^t⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 80

2/1

Runner-up in 2 bumpers and confirmed Flat debut promise when winning 7-runner novice at Lingfield (12f, AW) in February by nose from Eleanor Cross. A touch disappointing under a penalty at Southwell a month later, but ought to be even better on turf now handicapping upped further in trip.

Form: 3-17

(11)

Banderas²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M L W Bell| OR: 79

5/1

11/1, got back on track returned to a shorter trip after 10 months off having been gelded when fourth of 8 in handicap at Ripon (12f, heavy) 3 weeks ago. Should stay this far so he warrants plenty of respect.

Form: 5/3218-4

(3)

Educator^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Ray Dawson| T: M Appleby| OR: 79

15/2

Fourteen runs since last win in 2022. 9/1, got back on track returned to all-weather and with cheekpieces retried when second of 7 in handicap at Southwell (14.1f) 20 days ago. More needed to open his account for current connections.

Form: 47-0892

(8)

Sax Appeal²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Archie Young⁽⁷⁾| T: C Johnston| OR: 76

12/1

Latest win at Wolverhampton in February. 9/1, bit below form eighth of 13 in handicap at Musselburgh (12.5f, good to soft) 27 days ago, not unduly punished. Upped further in trip.

Form: 28-6198

(4)

Achnamara^p¹³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Phil Dennis| T: P A Kirby| OR: 75

40/1

Finished closer than previously in handicaps for this yard despite blowing the start when fifth of 10 at Southwell (12.1f, 80/1) in January. Back up in trip. Others look far more obvious.

Form: 07209-5

(1)

Nova Legend^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: S H James| T: P T Midgley| OR: 73

100/1

Clearly wasn't 100% on the day when last of 5 in handicap (40/1) at this course (11.9f, good to soft) 16 days ago, folding tamely. Up in trip. Can only really be watched.

Form: 128/005

(10)

Two Past Eight^b¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: S D Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: A King| OR: 71| BF

9/1

Holding form well but finding it very hard to get his head in front, second of 7 in handicap at Southwell (16.5f, 5/2) 19 days ago. Can give another good account.

Form: 23-5422

(6)

Churchella^v¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 71

9/1

2 wins from 6 runs this year, latest at Southwell in April. 7/2, went like the best horse at the weights when third of 7 in handicap at Southwell (16.5f) 19 days ago, coming from much further back than the 2 who beat her. Expected to be bang there returned to turf.

Form: 251013

(2)

Merrijig²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Jack Gilligan| T: John Berry| OR: 68| BF

4/1

1 win from 2 runs this year, latest at Chelmsford in March. Failed to meet expectations when fifth of 6 in handicap (9/4) at Ripon (16f, heavy) 3 weeks ago. Well worth another chance to prove himself well treated from this sort of mark under less testing conditions.

Form: 6521-15

(9)

Rock N Roll Pinkie¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Joey Haynes| T: I Furtado| OR: 63

25/1

Easy to back and beaten much further by Churchella than on penultimate start when fourth of 7 in handicap (7/1) at Southwell (16.5f) 19 days ago. Bounce back needed.

Form: 57-0634

Non-Runners

(7)

Dark Jedi¹⁴

Weight: 9-7| Age: 8

T: T D Easterby J: D Fentiman

Forecasts

Caustic (2/1), Merrijig (4/1), Dark Jedi (4/1), Banderas (5/1), Educator (15/2), Churchella (9/1), Two Past Eight (9/1), Sax Appeal (12/1), Rock N Roll Pinkie (25/1), Achnamara (40/1), Nova Legend (100/1)

A few in with a squeak but having gone like the best horse at the weights when third at Southwell last month, CHURCHELLA is clearly still on a mark she can win from when things fall right so gets the vote ahead of Caustic, who makes his handicap debut and ought to be even better on turf. Merrijig failed to meet expectations under testing conditions at Ripon 3 weeks ago, so he rounds off the shortlist back on a sounder surface.