William Hill Summer Cup Handicap

Off time: 16:42 | Winning time: 1m 39.59s

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(4)

Hi Royal²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: O McSweeney⁽³⁾| T: K A Ryan| OR: 101| D

11/2

Fourteen runs since last win in 2022. Creditable sixth of 12 in handicap at Sandown (8f, good to firm, 20/1) 28 days ago, well positioned. Chance if rediscovering old form.

Form: 077-206

(3)

La Trinidad²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Rowan Scott| T: Roger Fell| OR: 96| CD

15/2

C&D winner. 9/1, bit below form fifth of 9 in handicap at York (7.9f, good to firm) 21 days ago. Would be a danger to all if back to something like his best.

Form: 00-3305

(2)

Treble Tee^t1⁹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: S De Sousa| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 93WS

9/4

Thrice-raced winner. Last of 6 in conditions stakes (13/2) at Goodwood (8f, good). Off 92 days (has undergone a wind op and gelded in the interim) and tongue strap applied for this handicap debut. Sizeable step forward needed.

Form: 1-46

(1)

Barley^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 83| D

15/2

Fourteen runs since last win in 2024. 10/3, creditable second of 6 in handicap at Ripon (8f, soft) 14 days ago, running on. Unlikely to be far away at the business end.

Form: 552022

(5)

Big Leader⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: P J McDonald| T: G R Oldroyd| OR: 91| D

6/4

Won 9-runner novice (7/5) at Southwell (8.1f) 46 days ago. More will be needed now handicapping, but there's no knocking a 2-2 record and his opening mark looks fair.

Form: 11

Non-Runners

(6)

Botanical⁵⁷

Weight: 10-3| Age: 5

T: G Boughey J: C Lee

Forecasts

Big Leader (6/4), Treble Tee (9/4), Botanical (4/1), Hi Royal (11/2), La Trinidad (15/2), Barley (15/2)

The votes goes to BOTANICAL, who is now 1 lb below the mark off which he was a solid second in the John Smith's Cup at York last summer and this drop back in trip looks a good move judged on his latest effort at Epsom. The unbeaten Big Leader is an unknown quantity and he has to be feared, while Barley has been knocking on the door of late and he is third choice.