15:40 Newbury

Saturday 22 April 2017

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:4517:2017:55

Be Wiser Insurance Spring Cup Handicap (Str)

Off time: 15:43 | Winning time: 1m 36.93s

(20)

Fanciful Angel⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M Botti| OR: 106

20/1

Excellent winner out in Meydan in January and this appears to be his optimum ground/trip but he's likely to struggle off this sort of weight back in a handicap.

Form: 6-17787

(13)

Big Baz²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: M Dwyer| T: W R Muir| OR: 105

50/1

Very effective over a straight mile and conditions won't be a problem but he's shaped as if amiss on three of his last four starts and he looks an unreliable type so hard to fancy in such a competitive affair.

Form: 0648-09

(5)

Bossy Guest²⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Charles Bishop| T: M R Channon| OR: 103

33/1

All three wins have come over sprint trips and not won since 2015. Ran a creditable race at Royal Ascot last year when sixth behind Portage but very poor in several efforts either side of that run and looks up against it here.

Form: 77600-5

(2)

Pacify³⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Fran Berry| T: R M Beckett| OR: 102

20/1

Two wins from 11 starts and ran some creditable races in defeat last year. Not seen since Royal Ascot though, shaping as if he was amiss and probably best watched on return to action over a trip that looks sharp enough.

Form: 452/220-

(11)

Donncha²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Eddery| OR: 101

8/1

Excellent second in the Spring Mile at Doncaster and performed with great credit again when third this year. No margin for error off this mark though and while he should go well again, there's a possibility he saves his best efforts for when he's fresh.

Form: 3894-37

(21)

Zhui Feng²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Jim Crowley| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 100

10/1

One of the likelier front-runners in the line-up and went well for a long way when drawn on the wrong side at Doncaster in the Lincoln last time. Out on the wing not a disaster here but he will be hoping there's no significant pace bias this time around.

Form: 550-480

(12)

Banksea²¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Spencer| T: L M Cumani| OR: 100

9/1

Hit and miss performer who has given the impression he wants a little further than this trip on more than one occasion. Ground will be no issue and likely to be finishing well late in the day but others probably a little better handicapped.

Form: 150220-

(16)

Boomshackerlacker²³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: F Sweeney| T: George Baker| OR: 100

33/1

Was winning for the fifth time when scoring over 7f (good to firm) here in July but he was twice well-held afterwards over 1m off this sort of mark. Others look more likely on balance.

Form: 050157-

(1)

Master Carpenter²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Lulu Stanford⁽⁵⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 97

14/1

Unplaced on his last 14 starts and while he's fallen to an attractive looking mark, he's probably better over a little further than this. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 3546-00

(15)

Chelsea Lad³³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: M Meade| OR: 96

7/2

Two wins from three starts and won over the mile at Newmarket when last seen. Form of that race perhaps not the strongest so an official rating of 96 looks a little harsh on what's been achieved but he's far less exposed than most in this line-up and may do even better this year. Proven on fast ground and connections had a winner at Newmarket earlier in the week. More interesting than most.

Form: 1/21-P

(8)

Another Touch²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 96

16/1

Well-suited to the straight mile and still looks on a workable mark having only gone up 2lb for a close second in an end of season York handicap. No show on return from an absence at Doncaster last time but better suited to the likely fast ground and gives the impression he could win a race off this mark.

Form: 1582-02

(17)

Sir Roderic²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: B R Millman| OR: 95

20/1

Rattled off an excellent hat-trick last summer between 7f and an extended 1m but on good ground or easier. Found it tougher going off higher marks last back-end and on his reappearance in Doncaster's Spring Mile. More needed.

Form: 11290-0

(7)

George William¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 94

10/1

Progressive sort who appears to be getting better as he gets older. Good win at Nottingham on return but 4lb perhaps a little harsh for that effort and will need to come on for that run if he is to prevail in what looks like a deeper contest.

Form: 8551-14

(9)

Home Cummins^p¹⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Sammy Jo Bell⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 94

20/1

Third in a Listed contest behind Muffri'Ha on the AW when last seen and excellent runner-up effort the time before at York. More consistent than most in here but she does tend to need her seasonal comeback judged on prior seasons.

Form: 36523-0

(18)

Havre De Paix¹¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: J Fortune| T: D Menuisier| OR: 94

50/1

Just one Chelmsford win to her name in a maiden and has looked out of her depth in Listed company on her last four outings. Yet to run off a mark this high in a handicap and looks likely to struggle.

Form: 96450-0

(10)

London Protocol^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Jordan Vaughan⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 93

33/1

Just a modest strike-rate with one win from 15 starts and the mile doesn't look like his optimum trip judged on his previous runs at this distance. Looks effective on all types of ground but not one of the better handicapped ones by the looks of it.

Form: 3530-80

(14)

Storm Ahead¹⁹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Josephine Gordon| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 92

16/1

Just struggled a little off his revised mark last season but conteted some hot races and less exposed than most in this field on open to improvement. Should go well and any rain would likely aide his chance.

Form: 1/4124-8

(6)

El Hayem²⁷³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: J Fanning| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 90

12/1

Won over the straight mile at Doncaster last season and then run came on good to firm ground but looked a little disappointing on subsequent starts. Could still be on a fair mark and trainer couldn't be in better form so not ruled out.

Form: 4129-62

(3)

Mountain Rescue¹⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Harry Bentley| T: C F Wall| OR: 89

25/1

Two wins from seven starts for this yard but handicapper has taken no chances shoving him up another 4lb for a recent runner-up effort on the AW. That formline unlikely to be the strongest on offer.

Form: 44612-0

(4)

Fastnet Tempest^p²⁰⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: F Norton| T: W J Haggas| OR: 88

10/1

Lightly raced sort who ran well at Yarmouth two starts back. Disappointing favourite when last seen but should do better this season and he's a more consistent sort than most in this line up. Yard have been in good form so far this season and this jockey is excellent from the front so should go well if it turns out he's drawn on the right side.

Form: 21214-3

(19)

In The Red^b⁹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: Noel Garbutt⁽³⁾| T: Martin Smith| OR: 87

50/1

Bounced back to form last time at Kempton but takes an 8lb hike in the weight for that and likely to struggle back down in class.

Form: 4779-10

Forecasts

Chelsea Lad (7/2), Donncha (8/1), Banksea (9/1), Fastnet Tempest (10/1), George William (10/1), Zhui Feng (10/1), El Hayem (12/1), Master Carpenter (14/1), Another Touch (16/1), Storm Ahead (16/1), Fanciful Angel (20/1), Pacify (20/1), Home Cummins (20/1), Sir Roderic (20/1), Mountain Rescue (25/1), Bossy Guest (33/1), London Protocol (33/1), Boomshackerlacker (33/1), Big Baz (50/1), In The Red (50/1), Havre De Paix (50/1)

If there is no draw bias or if the bias is low, FASTNET TEMPEST could go well from the front for Franny Norton. He looks less exposed than plenty in here and his trainer has had a flying start to the campaign. Chelsea Lad is another unexposed sort who boasts a similar profile; he looks capable of a bold show for connections that had a winner earlier in the week. Without a lot of pace in the race, it could pay to be prominent and Zhui Feng is sure to be on the front end. He went well for a long way in the Lincoln at Doncaster last time and may come on for that effort.