Seventh Race 5.40

THE ESSEX HORSE & PONY PROTECTION SOCIETY

HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 3) for three yrs old and upwards x Total prize fund £25000 Owners Prize Money 1st £10668, 2nd £5333, 3rd £2668, 4th £1333 (Penalty Value £13500)

City Selections

THE DEFIANT justified strong support when winning with something in hand over C&D and Daniel Steele’s seven-year-old is hard to oppose off 5lb higher Democracy Dilemma hasn’t been disgraced on turf of late and is expected to remain competitive now reverting to the all-weather off 2lb lower. May Sonic could also get involved now dropped into a 0-90 contest and completes the shortlist.

Leading course trainer (17-22): S C Williams (54 wins from 419 runners, 13%) runs BEAR PROFIT

Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): C Hills (4 wins from 30 runners, 13%) runs MAY SONIC

Weightwatcher: MAY SONIC won off a handicap mark of 101, his rating is now down 9lb to 92.

Longest Traveller: LORD RIDDIFORD trained by J J Quinn, Malton, 216 miles.

TIMEFORMVIEWCoursewinner.LatestwinatSouthwellinJanuary.However,belowformbothstartssince,seventhof9 inhandicap(22/1)atNewcastle(5f)whenlastseeninMarch.

(GB) (16) 3010-00 D

B g Dark Angel (IRE) - Quite Sharp

B Sun Bloodstock Racing Ltd

TIMEFORMVIEWWellheldbothstartsthisseason,twenty-thirdof26inhandicapatRoyalAscot(5f,goodtofirm,50/1) 16daysago.Othersmorepersuasiveashemakeshispolytrackdebut.

3 LORD RIDDIFORD (IRE) (36) 4-43000 CD

TFRHHIII BHA90

8 9-8 (4)

Br Gr g Zebedee - Beacon of Hope (IRE) Jason Hart J

O The JAM Partnership John Quinn, Malton T

B Malachy M. Harney JJ Quinn Racing Ltd S

TIMEFORM VIEW Three-time C&D winner Has been struggling for form of late, sixteenth of 20 in handicap at Epsom (5f,goodtofirm,33/1)36daysago.Hasdroppedbelowhislastwinningmark. TFRHHIII BHA84

4 TWILIGHT MADNESS (GB) (34) 114-400 D

5 9-7 (9)

Br Ch h Twilight Son - Rhal (IRE) Ross Coakley J

O Mr P. R. Hedger & P C F Racing Ltd Simon Hodgson, Hook T

B Crossfields Bloodstock Ltd

TIMEFORMVIEW Below form when seventh of 9 in handicap (4/1) at Wolverhampton (6.1f) 34 days ago. Now only 1lbabovehislastwinningmark,though,andshouldbesuitedbythereturnto5f.

5 ANGLE LAND (GB) (15) 562166 CD BF

TFRHHHII BHA83

4 9-7 (3)

Br B f Mayson - Jumeirah Star (USA) Hayley Turner J

O Mr K. Dasmal, Mr A Rix, Mr R Penney Robert Cowell, Newmarket T

B Mr K. Dasmal & Bottisham Heath Stud Al Basti Equiworld S

TIMEFORMVIEWC&Dwinner Haswon3timesthisyear,withherlatestsuccessatGoodwoodinMay Runofgoodform haltedwhensixthof8inhandicapatHaydock(5f,goodtofirm,3/1)15daysago(lostashoe).

TFRHHHII BHA83

6 BEAR PROFIT (IRE) (20) 0613-00 CD 4 9-6 (7)

Br B g Profitable (IRE) - Orikawa (FR) Sean Levey J

O Spiers, Barratt & Signy Stuart Williams, Newmarket T

B Mylestown Farms Ltd Tote S

TIMEFORMVIEWHasfinisheddownthefieldbothstartsthisyear,eighthof9inhandicapatWindsor(6f,goodtofirm,12/1) 20daysago.However,he’swontwicefrom3startsatthisvenue,includingoverC&D.

TFRHHIII BHA82

7 DEMOCRACY DILEMMA (IRE) (27) 321053 D 3 9-5 (6)

Br B g Cotai Glory - Majestic Alexander (IRE)

Hollie Doyle J

O Mr K McCabe David Evans, Abergavenny T

B Mountarmstrong Stud Emma Evans Racing Ltd S

TIMEFORM VIEW Latest win at Thirsk in April. Below form third of 7 in handicap (5/1) at Windsor (5.1f, good to soft) 27daysago.However,cangetbackontrackreturnedtothisgradeontheall-weather TFRHHHHH BHA86

8 THE DEFIANT (GB) (17)

Br B g Morpheus - Killer Class Kieran Shoemark J

O Mrs Linda Chester Daniel Steele, Henfield T

B Mr Frank Brady Brady & Gallagher (1999) Ltd S

TIMEFORMVIEWTookadvantageofadropingradewhenwinning9-runnerhandicapatthisC&D(5/2)17daysago. Runner-uphereoffthesamemarklastSeptember,sohecanremaincompetitivebackupinclass. TFRHHHHI BHA74

9 THE THAMES BOATMAN (GB) (25) 10-1344 D BF 3 8-12 (1)

Br B g Havana Grey - Gilt Linked George Rooke J

O Nigel Scandrett & Shane Buy Richard Hughes, Upper Lambourn T

B Whitsbury Manor Stud Tattersalls S

TIMEFORMVIEWLatestwinatWolverhamptoninFebruaryandmadetheframenext2starts.11/8,racedfreelywhenlastof4 inhandicapatYarmouth(5.2f,goodtofirm)25daysago.Couldresumeprogressinthisbiggerfield. TFRHHHHI BHA79

DECLARED RUNNERS 9

Visor worn by No. 5, 7. Tongue Strap worn by No. 8.

Stewards Note:

2022: NO CORRESPONDING RACE LAST YEAR

ANGLE LAND: Following its run on 24/6/2023 it was reported that the horse lost a shoe.

THE THAMES BOATMAN: Following its run on 14/6/2023 it was reported that the horse was unsuited by the going.

Probable S.P’s: 4-1 The Defiant (GB), 11-2 Democracy Dilemma (IRE), 13-2 Twilight Madness (GB), 7-1 Angle Land (GB), The Thames Boatman (GB), 9-1 Bear Profit (IRE), 10-1 May Sonic (GB), 12-1 Rogue Spirit (GB), 16-1 Lord Riddiford (IRE)

DEMOCRACY DILEMMA produced a career best when scoring at Thirsk in April and, having been in good form on the all-weather previously, he can return to winning ways down in grade. The Defiant won over C&D last time and is feared most ahead of The Thames Boatman.

Prize Money