Ffos Las 4:07 Result

This 2m staying handicap looks wide open among the 142lb top-weights, but Merrijig's recent form line (1-6323) shows consistent placing at a competitive level, with a win not long ago and solid efforts since, and he carries the least weight (140lbs) of the leading contenders relative to his OR of 63 - actually he's effectively racing off a fair mark. He's proven at this sort of trip/stamina test with blinkers already fitted (not a first-time gimmick), and John Berry's yard knows how to place these fitter, ex-jumps-bred stayers well over 2m on turf. Lusaka (582443) and Golden Flame (53-123) both carry 142lbs and have question marks - Lusaka hasn't scored and has been racing in a similar grinding pattern without breaking through, while Golden Flame's been off 35 days and his solitary placed effort in the sequence is thin. Sneaky Blinder is interesting with Rossa Ryan booked and a recent run 9 days ago, second last time, but he's dropping to a lower weight off a losing sequence and the piece of headgear (p) hasn't sparked a win yet. Merrijig's yard/jockey combo (Gina Mangan) and the fact he's already shown he can win and consistently place with a level of firmness give him the swing factor. At a likely mid-price in this competitive Class 6, he offers the best combination of proven course/distance stamina and current form curve trending the right way.