15:45 Epsom Downs

Friday 31 May 2024

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

Betfred Nifty 50 Handicap

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 2m 12.07s

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(7)

Liberty Lane²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 106

9/2

Smart and improved performance to win 15-runner handicap at last year's Doncaster St Leger meeting and wasted no time putting a disappointing reappearance behind him when scoring at Newmarket (9f, good) earlier this month. May do better still with a return to 1¼m holding no fears.

Form: 0410-01

(1)

Killybegs Warrior²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: R Kingscote| T: C Johnston| OR: 104| D

22/1

Won a valuable 1¼m handicap on the July Course last summer and some smart efforts in defeat subsequently, notably his second from the front in 11f Rosebery at Kempton on reappearance in April. Bit below par at Chester (10.3f, good to firm) 3 weeks ago but may well bounce back.

Form: 403-267

(13)

Haunted Dream¹⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: James Doyle| T: H Al Jehani| OR: 104| D

8/1

Won on 2023 reappearance for Ed Dunlop and performed creditably for his new yard in Doha in recent months, scoring first time up in December. Found just the one too strong in the Qatar Trophy (10.9f, good) when last seen a couple months ago and a career-best effort required to land this.

Form: 2384-27

(3)

Bolster³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: K R Burke| OR: 102| D

5/1

Landed first 2 starts in novice company 8 months apart and having left Simon & Ed Crisford, he produced a huge career best when making a successful return to action at Pontefract just under 6 weeks ago. Scopey sort who could well be on the path to pattern company. Big chance.

Form: 1/100-1

(11)

Paradias¹⁰⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Rossa Ryan| T: A King| OR: 94| D

18/1

Useful at up to 1½m on the Flat and made a winning hurdling debut at Lingfield in November. Matched rather than built on that at Newbury a month later, but found to have bled (and also showed signs of post-race heat stress) at Doncaster in February. Others preferred returned to the level.

Form: 215450-

(9)

City Streak²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 94| D

13/2

Went one better than on his reappearance when getting up late in the piece at Chester (10.3f, good to firm) 3 weeks ago. 3 lb higher here and should go well again being a fairly reliable operator.

Form: 2519-21

(12)

King's Code^v¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: P Cosgrave| T: P D Evans| OR: 93

22/1

Real success story for his yard, adding more wins at Southwell and Kempton at the beginning of the year. Proved beyond doubt he's still every bit as big a force on turf as all-weather when bumping into a Group-race bound winner at York (10.2f, good) 2 weeks ago so there's plenty to like.

Form: 114772

(4)

Mysterious Love⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: C Demuro| T: D Menuisier| OR: 92

28/1

Won a Nottingham maiden (8.3f, heavy) last May and not disgraced faced with some stiff tasks thereafter. Couldn't get competitive when down the field on handicap debut at Windsor (10f, good to firm) last Saturday however, so it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 5798-09

(10)

Sweet Reward¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: S De Sousa| T: J G Portman| OR: 89| CD

16/1

Won twice last year (including over C&D) and looked as good as ever when second at Newbury on return last month. Not in same form at Goodwood next time but wasted no time getting back to form returned to the Berkshire venue a fortnight ago, albeit having the run of race.

Form: 657-274

(2)

Loyal Touch¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 87| BF| D

11/1

Latest win at Newcastle in March. 5/2, good second of 8 in handicap at Ripon (9.8f, soft) 1 day ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 812272

(6)

I Still Have Faith^h²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-3| J: K T O'Neill| T: B Brookhouse| OR: 83| D

11/1

Won 4 times on the level (also successful in a juvenile hurdle) last year. Ran a cracker on return from 6 months off when second of 8 at Nottingham (8.3f, good) just under 3 weeks ago and even more progress isn't out of the question this season. Heads back up in trip.

Form: 34112-2

(8)

Derry Lad¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-2| J: Hayley Turner| T: Kevin Coleman| OR: 82| D

15/2

Progressed steadily last year and got back on the up with the benefit of reappearance when third at Naas (8f, good to firm) 12 days ago, noted putting in some good late work. Back up in trip and this Irish raider is one to consider from an unchanged mark.

Form: 1136-93

(5)

Lord Melbourne⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Tyler Heard⁽³⁾| T: R M Beckett| OR: 80| D

11/1

Was back at the scene of his best 3-y-o effort and proved more straightforward to get off the mark back on turf after 4 months off at Pontefract (10f, heavy) last month. Failed to repeat that effort back on a sounder surface last time, and has since left Simon & Ed Crisford (for 16,000 gns).

Form: 2384-15

Non-Runners

(14)

Sonnerie Power³⁹

Weight: 8-2| Age: 5

T: M Appleby J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Liberty Lane (9/2), Bolster (5/1), City Streak (13/2), Derry Lad (15/2), Haunted Dream (8/1), Lord Melbourne (11/1), I Still Have Faith (11/1), Loyal Touch (11/1), Sweet Reward (16/1), Paradias (18/1), King's Code (22/1), Killybegs Warrior (22/1), Mysterious Love (28/1), Sonnerie Power (33/1)

I STILL HAVE FAITH enjoyed a thoroughly productive 2023 campaign, and with his reappearance second at Nottingham sure to have blown away any cobwebs (winner that day has gone in again since), Ben Brookhouse's 4-y-o is fancied to notch a fifth career victory on the level back up at 1¼m. Karl Burke saddles a couple of last-time-out winners in Bolster and Liberty Lane so they're most feared, with Irish-raider Derry Lad another worth a mention, too.