First Race 5.25

THE FAIRWOOD BRASSERIE APPRENTICE HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS for four yrs old and upwards x Total prize fund £7650

6)

£3159, 2nd £1580, 3rd £789, 4th £395, 5th £197 (Penalty Value £4004)

Prize

City Selections

Stormingin (winner) got the better of PERSIAN WOLF (second) over C&D last month, but the latter, who is favoured by his draw in stall one, and on revised terms, is taken to reverse that form en route to victory. Miss Harmony has been running to a consistent level recently and she’s more than capable of being involved, along with recent Kempton scorer Island Of Skye, though he does have stamina to prove over this longer trip.

Stormingin

Leading course trainer (17-22): M Bell (31 wins from 164 runners, 19%) runs MISS HARMONY

Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): G L Moore (5 wins from 43 runners, 12%) runs STORMINGIN maiden. 66/1, tenth of 11 on handicap debut at Kempton

Longest Traveller: GUSTAV HOLST trained by M Usher, Lambourn, 128 miles.

9 weeks ago, slowlyaway Cheekpieceson1sttime.Toughtoseehiminvolved.

3 MEDRARA (GB) (39) 0/6500-4

Br B g Lope de Vega (IRE) - Moderah

O K Sohi & C Fellowes

B Stone Roses Bloodstock

TIMEFORM VIEW 17/2, made more impact than previously for this yard when fourth of 8 in handicap at Southwell (12.1f)39daysago.Tonguestrapon1sttime.

ISLAND OF SKYE (GB) (10) 060U4-1

Br B g Ribchester (IRE) - Bonnie Brae

O Davenport, Elsworth & Ten Green Bottles

Rosyground Stud TIMEFORM VIEW 7/1, career best after a wind op when winning 9-runner handicap at Kempton (8f) 10 days ago, riddenclosertothepacethanusual.Upintrip.Suretogiveanothergoodaccountraised3lb.

HHHHI BHA54

5 STORMINGIN (IRE) (29) 2653-01 CD 10 9-3 (8)

Br Gr g Clodovil (IRE) - Magadar (USA) Anna Gibson (7) J

O Paul Reed & G L Moore Gary Moore, Horsham T

B Kilnamoragh Stud K M Elite Products Ltd S

TIMEFORMVIEWEndedlonglosingrunin8-runnerhandicapatthisC&D(6/1)29daysagobyheadfromPersianWolf, diggingdeep.Claimswitharepeatbutthisquirkyveteranisn’tsuretobeinthesamemood.

6 SUN FESTIVAL (GB) (11) 24-0550

TFRHHHII BHA54

5 9-3 (4)

Br B g Toronado (IRE) - Raymi Coya (CAN) Alice Bond (7) J

O Mr Stuart Bond Joseph Parr, Newmarket T

B The Queen Joseph Parr Racing S

TIMEFORMVIEW 13/2, ran poorly when thirteenth of 14 in handicap at Southwell (11.1f) 11 days ago. Visor back on. Hastobetakenseriouslyfromacareer-lowmark.

7 GUSTAV HOLST (IRE) (10) 54-0000

Br B g Sea The Stars (IRE) - Scarlet And Gold (IRE)

TFRHHHHH BHA54

5 9-1 (3)

Rhys Clutterbuck J

O Mr Brian Rogan Mark Usher, Lambourn T

B Sunderland Holdings Inc Tote S

TIMEFORMVIEWRemainsamaidenafter18Flatruns.6/1andhoodedfor1sttime,lastof8inhandicapatLingfield(15.8f,AW) 10daysago.Significantlybackdownintrip.Cheekpiecesbackonandmayfeaturefromtumblingmark. TFRHHHII BHA52

8 PERSIAN WOLF (IRE) (9) 454626 CD 5 9-0 (1)

Br Ch g Slade Power (IRE) - Riobamba (USA) Mark Crehan J

O The Win Or Booze Racing Syndicate Phil McEntee, Newmarket T

B E. Lynam

TIMEFORMVIEW C&D winner 14/1, ran poorly upped in grade when sixth of 8 in handicap at this C&D 9 days ago. MeritsconsiderationbackinClass6company TFRHHHHI BHA51

9 FAITHLESS INSOMNIA (GB) (47) 000-200 4 8-11 (5)

Br B g Oasis Dream - Rive Gauche Molly Presland (7) J

O Mr D Reynolds & Mr C D Watkins Phil McEntee, Newmarket T

B Christopher Humber

TIMEFORMVIEW 11/2, bit below form seventh of 12 in minor event at Wolverhampton (9.5f) 47 days ago, unable to sustaineffort.Othersmorepersuasive. TFRHHIII BHA48

DECLARED RUNNERS 9

2022:MEETING ABANDONED

Tongue Strap worn first time by No. 3. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn first time by No. 2. Blinkers worn by No. 5, 8.

Visor worn by No. 6. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No. 4, 7.

Stewards Note: COMPERE: Following its run on 7/1/2023 it was reported that the horse hung left handed off the bend.

SUN FESTIVAL: Following its run on 28/2/2023 it was reported that the horse was slowly into stride.

GUSTAV HOLST: Following its run on 1/3/2023 it was reported that the horse hung right handed throughout.

Probable S.P’s: 7-2 Stormingin (IRE), 4-1 Island of Skye (GB), 9-2 Miss Harmony (GB), 15-2 Sun Festival (GB), 10-1 Medrara (GB), 12-1 Persian Wolf (IRE), 14-1 Gustav Holst (IRE), 16-1 Faithless Insomnia (GB), 40-1 Compere (GB)

PLAY SMARTER

An opening-looking apprentice handicap to start proceedings and SUN FESTIVAL gets the tentative nod to double her career tally back down in trip from this career-low mark. The main threat could be Island of Skye, who showed improved form to narrowly get off the mark at Kempton earlier this month, while Persian Wolf and veteran Stormingin are another couple worthy of a mention.