14:35 Epsom Downs

Friday 31 May 2024

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:3017:1017:40

TrustATrader Handicap

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 1m 47.84s

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(2)

Notre Belle Bete¹⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 104| BF| D

16/1

Good strike rate on the AW (4-9) and while he remains winless on turf following 16 attempts, a reproduction of his third-placed effort in a strong Newmarket handicap (9f, soft) last spring would give him a serious chance. Has won when fresh in the past, too, so there's cause for optimism.

Form: 313044-

(3)

Al Mubhir^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 104| BF

6/1

Consistent type who was just touched off when bidding to repeat 2023 success in a fairly valuable Leicester handicap (1m, heavy) last month. Better than the bare result next time at York where the drying ground wouldn't have been ideal and, with more give underfoot forecast here, he's a big player.

Form: 3936-26

(5)

Beshtani^p1²¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: James Doyle| T: H Al Jehani| OR: 104| D

12/1

Fairly useful form for Francis-Henri Graffard in France last year, winning 3 of his 5 starts at up to 9.5f. Recently changed hands for €340,000 and while the handicapper has taken no chances with this 4-y-o, it will be interesting to see how he shapes up in the betting. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 7/21121-

(16)

Blue For You^t,v¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Spencer| T: D O'Meara| OR: 99

14/1

Resumed winning ways in good style at York (1m, good) last summer and encouraging start to present campaign when fourth of 17 back on the Knavesmire recently (first run following a wind op). Should be effective on this course and has the right man on board to pull off his favoured hold-up tactics.

Form: 00070-4

(10)

Bopedro¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97

8/1

Smart handicapper who enhanced good Newmarket record when placed in the Cambridgeshire during the autumn. Appears to be coming back to the boil judged on his solid third at York (1m, good) last time (stablemate Blue For You, Al Mubhir and Dutch Decoy all behind) and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 4-47883

(11)

Fantastic Fox²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Aidan Keeley⁽³⁾| T: R Varian| OR: 97

11/1

Proved as good as ever when resuming winning ways at Lingfield (1m, AW) in January and rounded off his productive winter campaign when a close third at Newcastle. Wasn't beaten far back on turf in the 7f Victoria Cup at Ascot 20 days ago and each-way shout back up in trip here.

Form: 14-3138

(12)

Finn's Charm²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 95

17/2

Winner of 1m Musselburgh handicap on 2023 reappearance and shaped pretty well on return this time round, too, when sixth of 13 at Chester (7.6f, good to firm) 3 weeks ago (first run having been gelded/following a wind op). Yard also represented by Dutch Decoy and Benacre.

Form: 20049-6

(6)

Koy Koy¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: G Boughey| OR: 95| D

9/2

Successful off similar mark at Wolverhampton (8.6f) last September and, following a low-key, three-race stint in Dubai, he shaped well back on these shores when sixth of 15 at Newmarket (7f, good) where he was hampered at a crucial stage. One to consider back up to a mile with William Buick aboard.

Form: 13-9506

(1)

Dutch Decoy¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: K Stott| T: C Johnston| OR: 93

14/1

Cracking servant to connections who has looked as good as ever this spring, runner-up in back-to-back competitive Newmarket handicaps prior to a rare below par display at York. Appeals as the type to bounce back quickly and he's a strong each-way candidate.

Form: 06-0220

(9)

Benacre⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: R Kingscote| T: C Johnston| OR: 91| C

12/1

Three-time winner as a juvenile and, having been gelded following a rather up-and-down 2023 campaign, he resumed with a solid effort at Wolverhampton. However, his response to pressure was rather underwhelming at Newmarket next time and he looks vulnerable.

Form: 0439-30

(14)

Autumn Festival¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: E De Giles| OR: 89

33/1

Prolific in 2022 and capitalised on a drop in the weights when adding to his tally at Beverley last September. Performed well above market expectations (sent off at 50/1) when third on return/debut for new yard in the Thirsk Hunt Cup but subsequent display at Newbury was poor.

Form: 2029-30

(4)

Two Tempting¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: David Egan| T: J G Portman| OR: 88

12/1

Largely consistent in 2023 and cracking start to this season when bagging 1m handicaps at Chelmsford and Ascot. He was put in his place off this mark at Newbury last time, though, and there'll be no respite for him in another very competitive heat.

Form: 883-110

(13)

Dashing Roger³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: Marco Ghiani| T: W Stone| OR: 88

20/1

Signed off last season with a pair of wins in the mud but hasn't threatened in a handful of appearances so far this year, for all that he his latest effort at Leicester represented a step back in the right direction. Others preferred.

Form: 711-705

(15)

Canoodled³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: Saffie Osborne| T: E Walker| OR: 87

50/1

Did the job well when getting her head back in front at Newmarket last summer but that win was gained off a 9 lb lower mark and she hasn't fired in 2 starts so far this season.

Form: 3649-07

(7)

Orbaan^t¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 8-4| J: S De Sousa| T: D O'Meara| OR: 84

17/2

Losing run mounting up but he was a good third off this career-low mark at Ayr (7.2f, good) recently, leaving the impression that this step back up in trip would be in his favour. Helps give the David O'Meara yard (also represented by Blue For You and Bopedro) a strong hand.

Form: 0500-63

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to board prices only - deduction 10p in the pound

Non-Runners

(8)

Dancing Magic²¹

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: R A Teal J: Rossa Ryan

Forecasts

Koy Koy (9/2), Al Mubhir (6/1), Dancing Magic (7/1), Bopedro (8/1), Orbaan (17/2), Finn's Charm (17/2), Fantastic Fox (11/1), Two Tempting (12/1), Beshtani (12/1), Benacre (12/1), Dutch Decoy (14/1), Blue For You (14/1), Notre Belle Bete (16/1), Dashing Roger (20/1), Autumn Festival (33/1), Canoodled (50/1)

The key to this could be the handicap at York's Dante meeting in which stablemates BOPEDRO and Blue For You finished third and fourth respectively. The latter is entitled to come on for that and looks very dangerous with Jamie Spencer in the hot-seat but Bopedro is taken to uphold that form and emerge on top. Al Mubhir shaped better than the bare result in that same race and further rain would strengthen his case, while Koy Koy also warrants consideration, along with Fantastic Fox.

Previous Winners

2023

Austrian Theory

Weight: 9-2 |Age: 4

J: J Fanning | T: C Johnston

7/1

Prize Money

1st: £38,655.002nd: £18,128.003rd: £9,068.004th: £4,530.005th: £2,265.006th: £1,132.00

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