Betfred Play Fred's 5 Million Handicap

Off time: 16:29 | Winning time: 1m 45.9s

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(1)

Kitaro Kich^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: N Callan| T: George Baker| OR: 71| D

25/1

Fourth win of a very productive AW spell at Chelmsford in March. Seventh of 13 in handicap at Kempton (12/1) 12 days ago, effort flattened after making headway and has to prove he can do it on turf (given a chance by the assessor).

Form: 120087

(3)

Due West²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Ray Dawson| T: R Varian| OR: 75

10/3

Lightly-raced colt who showed solid form both starts as a 2-y-o. Second of eight in novice at Thirsk (15/8) 23 days ago, no match for winner but a sound reappearance nonetheless. Likely improver now handicapping for powerful stable.

Form: 64-2

(4)

Eazy On The Eye¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Hollie Doyle| T: H Main| OR: 74| D

85/40

Won twice on the AW last year and ran well back in a more suitable grade at York (5th) 30 days ago. Well backed but could manage only fifth of 11 in handicap at Windsor (11/2) 11 days ago when tried in a hood, which is left off here.

Form: 703055

(2)

Jiff's Army^p,t¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Rossa Ryan| T: S C Williams| OR: 73| CD

11/2

Won over C&D (6/4) 39 days ago then finished ninth of 12 in handicap at Brighton (8/1) 19 days ago, running below par. Needs to bounce back at a C&D that previously suited.

Form: 076319

(5)

Hachiman²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 72

5/2

Finished third in novice company at Windsor after showing little on debut and continued progress when landing 11-runner maiden at Lingfield (8f, AW) (11/2) three weeks ago, overcoming a pace bias. Making handicap debut and looks likely to progress further.

Form: 8-31

(6)

Play Me¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Donagh Murphy⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Boyle| OR: 61| CD

11/1

Back up in trip and produced a career-best effort when landing 5-runner handicap at this C&D (11/1) 10 days ago, travelled fluently and led entering final furlong, won readily. 4 lb rise looks perfectly fair.

Form: 834361

Forecasts

Eazy On The Eye (85/40), Hachiman (5/2), Due West (10/3), Jiff's Army (11/2), Play Me (11/1), Kitaro Kich (25/1)

HACHIMAN overcame a pace bias when scoring at Lingfield three weeks ago and looks open to further improvement on handicap debut. He's marginally preferred to Play Me, who won readily over C&D 10 days ago, and Due West, who is in the right hands to go forward.