JenningsBet 200 Shops Nationwide Handicap

Made all to win a 6f maiden at Southwell last August and followed that with an emphatic success at Goodwood on his handicap debut the following month (6f, good); disappointed on his seasonal return last month but back on track when comfortably seeing off five rivals at Windsor 12 days ago; 4lb higher against much deeper opposition this time and he'll need to improve again; after just six starts that's possible though.

He had been banging at the door before winning at Newbury last month and he comes here on the back of a cracking run in the Wokingham last week, missing the break slightly and ending up further back than is usually the case; finished his race off well for sixth, however, and this is less demanding; strong form in three AW starts and this July Cup entrant is a major player.

Smart form here as a 2yo, notably a conditions-race win over C&D in October 2022; absent since finishing eighth of 11 in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes on this card 12 months ago; not handicapped out of things on his return and he's been gelded prior to this stable debut (same owner).

Useful sprint handicapper on his day; as good as ever when second at Leicester in April and he ran creditably in a good C&D handicap last month; not quite in the same form at Epsom three weeks ago but he's one to consider.

4-4 on AW when trained by Archie Watson, including a 7f handicap win at Chelmsford off a 3lb higher mark; 2024 was disappointing and he was also well held on his reappearance in Qatar in January; should be of more interest back on AW starting out for a new stable.