Race Details

• Race: 4.05 Parkfield Equine Solutions Handicap (Class 6)
• Course: Brighton
• Distance: 1 mile 1 furlong 207 yards (approx. 1m 2f)
• Prize Money: £6,600 (£3,454 to the winner)
• Going: Good
• Runners: 14

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Runner-by-Runner Analysis

This is a low-grade but competitive handicap where course form at Brighton’s unique, undulating track is a significant advantage.

• Huntly Lodge: Top weight with very poor recent form. Has been comprehensively beaten in all recent starts and is impossible to recommend.
• Mrembo: A consistent mare from the red-hot Jonathan Portman stable. She has a good record at Brighton (3 places from 7 runs) and ran a solid third here in September. With top apprentice Olivia Tubb taking 5lb off, she holds strong each-way claims.
• Racing Demon: Ran an excellent second over course and distance in September, proving his effectiveness at the track. He is on a fair handicap mark but his trainer’s stable is currently out of form.
• Huxley: Has shown no form in either flat or national hunt racing for a long time. Easily dismissed.
• Birthday Angel: Arrives in the form of his life, having bolted up over this course and distance just nine days ago. He carries a penalty for that comfortable win, but he is clearly thriving and his trainer is in flying form. He looks the one they all have to beat.
• Galactic Glow: A consistent type who won at Lingfield in August. While most of his best form is at Bath, he is a solid yardstick in this grade and shouldn’t be far away.
• Fram Castle: Appears to need a much longer trip to be seen at his best, having won over two miles previously. This distance is likely too sharp for him.
• Mc’ted: Comes here on a very quick turnaround after an impressive, easy all-the-way win at Wolverhampton five days ago. He carries a 5lb penalty for that success and will be full of confidence. A major player if he can translate that form to turf.
• Self Charging: A lightly-raced three-year-old making her handicap debut. She has shown very little in her four starts to date but represents an in-form trainer. A big improvement is needed.
• Fighting Poet: A true Brighton specialist. Three of his career wins have come at this track, including one in August. He knows every inch of this course and often runs better here than his form figures suggest. A must for any shortlist.
• Shabu Shabu: A three-year-old with solid recent form, including a win at Yarmouth and a good second at Pontefract last time. He is unexposed compared to many of these and could still have more to offer.
• Dogged: An exposed veteran who was well beaten by a few of these rivals here last time. He is running from out of the handicap and looks to have a tough task.
• Thundering Breeze: Is now very well-handicapped on her old form and ran a decent third at Lingfield last month. However, she has been handed a very difficult task from the widest draw in stall 14.
• Madame Jeanette: Has shown no ability in three career starts and is running from out of the handicap. Makes no appeal.

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Verdict

A fascinating contest where recent winners and course specialists clash. The compelling claims of Birthday Angel after his dominant course and distance victory are hard to ignore.

1st: Birthday Angel He was a comfortable winner over this C&D nine days ago and is turned out again quickly while clearly at the top of his game. Coming from a trainer in scintillating form, he is the one to beat.

2nd: Mrembo Represents a stable in superb form and has a good record at this track. The 5lb claim of her talented apprentice jockey makes her look very well-treated, and she can give the selection the most to think about.

3rd: Fighting Poet It is impossible to ignore this horse’s fantastic record at Brighton. He is a true course specialist who comes alive at this venue and can be relied upon to run a big race.

4th: Mc’ted He was very impressive when making all to win just five days ago. If he is in the same form and can get to the front from his middle draw, his confidence could carry him into the placings.