Neither the 2m of his sole bumper start, nor the 5f he's been kept to since, appeal as the likely optimum requirement for CROWD QUAKE anywhere near as much as today's mile trip, and a major upturn in fortunes is not hard to foresee. Old rivals Brinton (next best) and Quick Away have been doing most of their better recent work in classified rather than handicap contests but nevertheless hold claims, along with Spirit Of Bowland. [Jeremy Grayson]
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Classified successes over this C&D and (latest) Wolverhampton's 8.6f either side of a narrow defeat by Quick Away in the same grade; that most recent win constituted career-best form, offering hope a record of 4443 in handicaps could be at least improved upon.
Two wins (0-65 and classified) to show from eight C&D starts, but has offered too little back here either side of March's Newcastle classified success and it's three years now since her most recent handicap score.
Beat Brinton half a length to register another Wolverhampton 8.6f classified win last month; class, surface and trip excuse a poor run at Doncaster since; nearest miss in a handicap came over tonight's C&D.
Fair start for this yard at Lingfield last month (7f), on which evidence a return to 1m makes sense; well below that effort since, however, and always the fear with him that the tendency to hang left will resurface.
Couldn't get competitive here on this month's return from 400 days off, albeit over a 7f that may no longer be any use to him; 2lb drop takes him below the mark from which he completed his Tapeta hat-trick two years ago, and he's 1-1 over C&D; revival not impossible.
Enters calculations on such as last October's C&D fifth off 10lb higher, and hopes lie in part with the return to 1m after failing to last under forcing tactics on many starts since; headgear comes off.
Gently progressive across three qualifying runs (6f-1m, standard Tapeta and good to soft), but presumably hard to train considering absences of 332, 65 and (here) 532 days; perhaps best watched on return.
C&D win number three in a classified event last month; current mark is below that of either handicap score here, though didn't offer much racing off it last time; more persuasive than some nonetheless.
Ahead of Beautiful Dawn and Copper Mountain over C&D latest, but appeared not to stay; first win still proving elusive, and no certainty visor will help tease out his resources longer given other headgear failed to.
Yet to rediscover 2024's peak form in three return outings, but a keeping-on near-4l fourth over 7f here latest hinted an extended run of starts up in trip may now be in order; gains headgear for the first time.
Inconclusive first turf run latest (stumbled early, then short of room); couple of below-par efforts over this C&D immediately before that, and others carry greater momentum into the race.
Didn't go on from an eyecatching Flat debut here in December, but yet to race beyond 5f in this discipline and 1m looks far closer to optimum on pedigree; possible big improver, especially if the tongue tie helps.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
