Second Race 5.30pm

THE tote PLACEPOT YOUR FIRST BET HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 6) (DIV II)

for three yrs old and upwards x Total race value £5527 Owners Prize Money. 1st £1835, 2nd £917, 3rd £459, 4th £251, 5th £240, 6th £240, 7th £240, 8th £240. (Penalty Value £2322) Weights raised 2lb and paragraphs 27 to 31 of the Weights and Handicapping Code complied with where applicable.

BETS AVAILABLE ON THIS RACE

CITY SELECTIONS MRS DIBBLE produced one of her best efforts when finishing second behind a progressive filly over course and distance last month and the three-year-old makes plenty of appeal as she attempts to notch up the first win of her career. Merlin’s Mission looked set to outrun his odds when meeting trouble in running at Kempton last time and may have more to offer at this trip, while Vitesse Du Son has registered all three of his wins over this distance and is also worth noting.

MRS DIBBLE

Merlin’s Mission Leading course trainer (16-21): M Appleby (64 wins from 596 runners, 11%) runs COBRA EYE Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): A Balding (6 wins from 58 runners, 10%) runs SEA FERN Weightwatcher: SPLIT ELEVENS won off a handicap mark of 60, his rating is now down 7lb to 53. Longest Traveller: TOMMYTWOHOOTS trained by J Quinn, Malton, 216 miles.

Br Breeding O Owner B Breeder J Jockey T Trainer S Sponsor

colours no horse age st- lb Draw

1 THE KING’S STEED (GB) (52) 021105 CD 8 9-10 (6)

Br B g Equiano (FR) - King’s Siren (IRE) O D Gilbert, J Lancaster, G Wills B Littleton Stud Elisha Whittington (5) J Shaun Lycett, Witney T

TIMEFORMVIEWC&Dwinner.LatestwinatHamiltoninMay.Verygoodfifthof12inhandicap(28/1)atKempton(8f) 52 days ago. One to consider. TFRHHHII BHA56 2 VITESSE DU SON (GB) (32) 511054 D 4 9-7 (8)

Br B g Fast Company (IRE) - Sister Guru O Scuderia DI Vincitori

Thomas Greatrex (3) J Mark Pattinson, Epsom T B D. R. Tucker Capital Business Media S TIMEFORMVIEWLatestwinatLingfieldinMay.22/1,belowformfourthof13inhandicapatYarmouth(8f,goodtofirm) 32 days ago. Can’t be ruled out. TFRHHHII BHA53 3 TAWTHEEF (IRE) (24) 603504 BF 4 9-6 (12)

Br B g Muhaarar - Miss Beatrix (IRE) O Trolley Action George Rooke (3) J Patrick Chamings, Basingstoke T

B Ms Mags Durkan TIMEFORM VIEW 4/1, creditable fourth of 11 in handicap at Lingfield (7f, AW) 24 days ago, unsuited by drop in trip. Merits consideration. TFRHHHII BHA52 4 TOMMYTWOHOOTS (GB) (26) 600255 3 9-6 (4)

Br B g Bated Breath - Lady Lube Rye (IRE) O D. & S. L. Tanker Transport Limited

Louis Steward J John Quinn, Malton T B D. & S. L. Tanker Transport Ltd JJ Quinn Racing Ltd S TIMEFORM VIEW 5/1, respectable fifth of 12 in handicap at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 26 days ago. Should go close on his best form. TFRHHHHI BHA55 5 SPLIT ELEVENS (GB) (11) 304645

Br B g Ajaya - Woodland Scene (IRE) O Mr Dave James B Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar TIMEFORM VIEW 16/1, fifth of 6 in handicap at Yarmouth (6f, good) 11 days ago. 3 9-4 (5)

Laura Pearson (3) J John Butler, Newmarket T

TFRHHIII BHA53

6 ELUSIF (IRE) (16) 100600 CD Br B g Elusive Quality (USA) - Appealing (IRE) O Carol & David Whymark 6 9-4 (10)

Grace McEntee (5) J Phil McEntee, Newmarket T

B Miss Y. Jacques TIMEFORM VIEW C&D winner. Latest win at Kempton in April. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, first run since leaving Conrad Allen when ninth of 12 in handicap at this C&D (18/1) 16 days ago. Visor back on. TFRHHIII BHA50 7 MERLIN’S MISSION (IRE) (38) 00-000 3 9-3 (1)

Br B g Awtaad (IRE) - Witnessed O The Magicians

Ryan Tate J Mike Murphy, Westoning T B Paul & Billy McEnery Old Palace Lodge Hotel S TIMEFORM VIEW Lightly-raced maiden. Very good seventh of 13 in handicap at Kempton (7f, 50/1) 38 days ago, merely passing beaten rivals. That was a hint that he could have more to offer and worth chancing. TFRHHHHH BHA52

B S.A.R.L. Haras Des Capucines et al TIMEFORM VIEW Good second of 13 in handicap (13/2) at this C&D 41 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter. TFRHHHII BHA52

9 GEMS JEWEL (GB) (367) 0000-

Br B f Charming Thought - Blissamore O The Giggle Factor Partnership B Rose Jones 3 9-1 (7)

Shane Kelly J Ivan Furtado, Newark T

TIMEFORM VIEW Lightly-raced maiden. Tongue strap on for 1st time, fourteenth of 16 in nursery at Redcar (6f, soft, 28/1), very slowly away. Off 12 months. Plenty to find on form. TFRHIIII BHA50 10 COBRA EYE (GB) (12) 426060

Br B g Kodiac - Annie The Doc O Mr N. Hassan B Zalim Bifov 4 9-0 (3)

Theodore Ladd (3) J Michael Appleby, Oakham T Trade Access Panels Ltd S TIMEFORMVIEWOnewinfrom21Flatruns.Twentyrunssincelastwinin2019.15/2,belowformninthof18inhandicap at Thirsk (6f, good to firm) 12 days ago. Hood on 1st time , cheekpieces back on. TFRHHIII BHA46 11 CAESONIA (GB) (267) 24352-0

Br Ch m Garswood - Agrippina O Mrs Fiona Williams B Mrs F. S. Williams TIMEFORM VIEW 5/1, ninth of 11 in handicap at Southwell (8.1f). Off 8 months. 5 8-13 (2)

Stefano Cherchi (3) J Charles Hills, Lambourn T

TFRHHIII BHA45

12 ARLO’S SUNSHINE (GB) (37) 042000

Br B g Cable Bay (IRE) - Touching (IRE) O The Hidden Brace B D. Curran 4 8-13 (15)

Kieran O’Neill J Alice Haynes, Newmarket T

TIMEFORMVIEWEyeshieldsonfor1sttimeblinkeredfor1sttime,seventhof9inminorevent(13/2)atWolverhampton (7.2f) 37 days ago. TFRHHIII BHA44 13 ALL IN THE GAME (IRE) (7) 40000-6

Br Br f Dragon Pulse (IRE) - Density O Miss A. Jones B Ms A. Jones 3 8-10 (9)

Dylan Hogan J J. S. Moore, Upper Lambourn T

TIMEFORM VIEW First run since leaving Sylvester Kirk when sixth of 9 in handicap (33/1) at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 7 days ago. TFRHHIII BHA45 14 SEA FERN (GB) (9) 00055

Br B f Acclamation - Scots Fern O Mrs P I Veenbaas & Partner B Stourbank Stud 3 8-10 (11)

William Cox (3) J Andrew Balding, Kingsclere T Stourbank Stud S TIMEFORM VIEW Lightly-raced maiden. Bit below form fifth of 12 in handicap (40/1) at this course (6f) 9 days ago, faring best of those held up. Has work to do. TFRHHHII BHA42 15 BERYL THE PERIL (IRE) (86) 00-4600 3 8-10 (14)

Br Ch f Dandy Man (IRE) - Lady of Rohan Mia Biggs (7) J

O The Champagne Poppers Kevin Philippart de Foy, Newmarket T

B Cafre Enniskillen Campus TIMEFORM VIEW 33/1, eighth of 9 in handicap at Yarmouth (7f, good to firm) 86 days ago. First run for yard after leaving William Jarvis. One to note in the market. TFRHHHII BHA40

DECLARED RUNNERS 15 2020:(See Div 1) Hood worn first time by No. 10. Visor worn by No. 3, 6. Tongue Strap worn by No. 1, 8. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No. 5, 10. Stewards Note: TAWTHEEF: Following its run on 1/9/2021 it was reported that the horse was never travelling. SPLIT ELEVENS: Following its run on 14/9/2021 it was reported that the horse hung right-handed. ELUSIF: Following its run on 9/9/2021 it was reported that the horse suffered interference in running. MERLIN’S MISSION: Following its run on 18/8/2021 it was reported that the horse was twice impeded on the run-in. GEMS JEWEL: Following its run on 23/9/2020 it was reported that the jockey was slow to remove the blindfold.

Probable S.P’s: 11-2 Tawtheef (IRE), 13-2 The King’s Steed (GB), Tommytwohoots (GB), 7-1 Mrs Dibble (FR), 12-1 Vitesse du Son (GB), 14-1 Sea Fern (GB), 16-1 Elusif (IRE), Cobra Eye (GB), 18-1 Arlo’s Sunshine (GB), 22-1 Split Elevens (GB), Beryl The Peril (IRE), 25-1 Merlin’s Mission (IRE), 28-1 All In The Game (IRE), 33-1 Caesonia (GB), 100-1 Gems Jewel (GB)

PLAY SMARTER Another modest contest in which it could be worth chancing MERLIN’S MISSION. He finally showed some ability at Kempton last time having endured a rough passage in a 0-65 handicap. Dropping into a 0-55 today, he could spring a bit of a surprise. Tommytwohoots and Tawtheef would go close on their best form but their records are hardly inspiring.