Investec Horses Help Heroes Handicap 2011

1.40 Epsom

Investec Horses Help Heroes Handicap (Class 2)  (3YO only)

Winner £24,924

Pick: Boogie Shoes (win)

Malthouse: In a style so typical of many from this yard, he’s improved massively with his racing, winning 1m2f handicaps on good ground at Sandown and Newmarket, seeing off opposition in good race at Newmarket latest; Will improve again and has to be rated highly but has been lumped with weight and many progressive types.

Sergant Ablett: Has run creditably in strong races on both starts this season, coming third of eight on reappearance and then fourth behind a Listed second when ridden more conservatively latest; Can be given a chance but this competitive and will need to be at top of game.

Boogie Shoes: Improved for debut effort and step up in trip when winning at Wolverhampton and step up in trip again seemed to unlock more improvement when running out a ready winner of a seven-runner handicap at Salisbury last time out; Capable of handling a 7lbs rise although many similar types and this is an infinitely better race.

Tanfeeth: Has taken his time but progressed with racing, running out an easy winner (margin flatters others) of a Sandown maiden (penalty kick for him after bumping into a useful odds on shot at Chester); Handicapper in the making but mark of 88 plenty stiff enough.

Rain Mac: Looked the type to make a much better 3yo when winning a 1m Newmarket maiden last September on his second start & and again improved when third to useful pair in strong looking York handicap on seasonal debut (raced very wide); Only raised 1lb for that effort and should improve for the run, so has to be given a strong chance. - NON RUNNER

Trojan Nights: Bumped into a subsequent winner (with one in behind) when making most and getting caught late in 1m Goodwood maiden and shaped as if this trip would suit when taking control over 2f and winning in Canter at Ripon; Mark is fair and can do better here .

Charles Camoin: Bagged a 1m Nottingham on soft ground, and better form when staying on second in 1m Sandown handicap; This race asks more of him but likely to be better over this trip (and for the run); Up 4lbs for that effort.

Gottany O’s: Has won twice this spring but not in handicap company, taking maiden at Wolverhampton and a conditions stakes at Catterick; Those both won using stamina over 12 furlongs, so doubts how he’s going to do at this trip and this much better race than latest.

Arabian Star: Raced a lot at two and promising effort should more come this year when second, beaten only a nose, by Buthelezi (gone onto better things); Has won this season but that in a Classified contest and well beaten both times he’s raced in handicap company.

Great Shot: Won AW maiden on reappearance and ran decent races in two handicaps since; Has shaped as if he will stay this new trip but that may not help anyway and his tendency to pull is a negative.

VERDICT: A typical 3yo handicap where so many are on the up and others have yet to show their true worth. BOOGIE SHOES, an impressive winner on his handicap debut, is taken to find more in a better race today, with Malthouse’s monster weight an off putting factor. Tanfeeth is most feared of the rest.