14:20 Newmarket

Saturday 6 May 2017

All13:5014:2014:5515:3516:1016:4517:20

Longholes Palace House Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 14:22 | Winning time: 58.18s

(12)

Marsha²¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 111

8/1

Smart winner of Prix De L'Abbaye when last seen at the end of last season, having a few of these in behind and obvious claims on that form but she does have to carry a Group 1 penalty for that success; she may need this run, with bigger targets down the line.

Form: 511521-

(9)

Cotai Glory²¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Spencer| T: C Hills| OR: 112

20/1

Group 3 winner at Newbury last year and finished fourth in the Nunthorpe at York. Not an entirely straight-forward sort (can hang) and would probably want to see a little rain to be seen to best effect but he's a speedy sort and not ruled out if his jockey can get the fractions right.

Form: 084910-

(13)

Just Glamorous²¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: T Eaves| T: R Harris| OR: 114

40/1

Progressed quickly through the handicap ranks last year and won a Group 3 in taking fashion at Chantilly towards the end of last season, beating runner-up Marsha by 3L. Failed to back that effort up in Prix De L'Abbaye when that rival turned the tables though and possible he's been a little flattered by his Group 3 win. Still may be capable of better this year so not dismissed and any rain would probably aide his chance.

Form: 18310-0

(2)

Alpha Delphini^p²³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Connor Beasley| T: B Smart| OR: 110

16/1

Narrowly denied in his bid for a four-timer by the reopossing Cotai Glory last time and entirely possible he may still be on his upward curve. Likes to race near the pace and there's plenty drawn high so may not be seen to best effect in this affair.

Form: 531112-

(14)

Goldream^p¹⁹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: M Harley| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 110

12/1

Group 1 winner in 2015's Prix De L'Abbaye but hasn't quite got back to those heights since and finished a well-beaten favourite at Dundalk when last seen in a Listed contest. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 937306-

(16)

Gracious John²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J F Egan| T: P D Evans| OR: 108

33/1

Good second to Kimberella on AW Championships Finals Day last month but he's not entirely straightforward and looks up against it in this company from a wide draw on the wing.

Form: 12-4442

(8)

Kachy²⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 110

25/1

Runner-up to Quiet Reflection last year at Royal Ascot but didn't quite match that effort in three starts since. Possibly better over 6f than 5f and needed his comeback run last year; possibly best watched this time.

Form: 162600-

(4)

Kimberella²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 110

12/1

Very consistent and seems to have improved since joining this stable, recording a career best on AW Championships Finals Day last month. Further improvement not completely ruled out but he's probably more effective over 6f and in deep here. Race fitness on his side at least.

Form: 336-117

(5)

Muthmir²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 110

6/1

Two-time Group 2 winner who disappointed last season when he was a beaten favourite on four occasions. Got back on track with a firm ground win on seasonal reappearance and well suited by the fast ground encountered there so should enjoy the forecast conditions. Will probably need to come on for that effort to land this, but that's not impossible.

Form: 58363-1

(6)

Ornate¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: L Dettori| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 110

12/1

Very hard to win with and only prevailed once in 13 starts, recording six runner-up efforts in the process. Went a fair way clear here on reappearance last month, getting caught in the closing stages and has a good each-way chance again. Jockey rides this course as well as anyone but suspicion is that his mount will find a way to get beat.

Form: 65222-2

(15)

Royal Birth^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Aaron Jones| T: S C Williams| OR: 102

66/1

Both his turf wins have come on fast ground over 5f so should enjoy conditions here but looks out of his depth a little in this company. Race fitness on his side at least after his efforts on AW Championships Finals Day.

Form: 02-7319

(11)

Washington Dc^t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110

10/3

Four-time Listed winner and Group 1 runner-up to Marsha in Prix De L'Abbaye. Gets a 7lb swing in the weights with that rival for a ¾L beating so may turn the tables with her. Didn't need to improve to justify winning a Navan race last time and should come on for it but trainer has never won this race which is slightly off-putting.

Form: 227-712

(7)

Dancing Star²⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 108

12/1

Justified favouritism to win the Steward's Cup at Goodwood last year and won here the time before over 6f. Not at her best in a soft ground Haydock Group 1 but plenty to like back on faster ground. Has her first go at the minimum trip.

Form: 112119-

(10)

Priceless¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 107

5/1

Didn't need to improve to justify favouritism in a weak Listed race at Bath last month but she's a consistent sort and there could be more to come if she can improve for that run. Kirby prefers the claims of Profitable but it may not have been a straightforward decision and the booking of this jockey in the saddle is a positive.

Form: 52241-1

(3)

Thesme²⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: N Tinkler| OR: 109

33/1

Finished her three-year-old season in fine style but proved very frustrating to follow last year despite running a respectable race in the Nunthorpe. Gives the impression we haven't seen the best of her just yet but she needed her comeback run last year and low draw possibly not ideal with plenty of the pace on the other side.

Form: 232252-

Non-Runners

(1)

Profitable²¹⁶

Weight: 9-3| Age: 5

T: C G Cox J: A Kirby

Forecasts

Washington Dc (10/3), Priceless (5/1), Profitable (5/1), Muthmir (6/1), Marsha (8/1), Goldream (12/1), Ornate (12/1), Kimberella (12/1), Dancing Star (12/1), Alpha Delphini (16/1), Cotai Glory (20/1), Kachy (25/1), Gracious John (33/1), Thesme (33/1), Just Glamorous (40/1), Royal Birth (66/1)

As his official rating suggests, Profitable is probably the best horse in the race, but things are a little different to last year, when he was arrived in a bid to land his maiden Group race. This time around he is likely to have his eyes fixed on Group 1 contests further down the line and would probably appreciate softer ground than what he is likely to get here. MUTHMIR looks like a worthy adversary and he should love the fast ground he's forecast to get; his draw (5) leaves him with options and he may come on for his reappearance win at Bath so there's plenty to like about his chance. It's slightly peculiar that Aidan O'Brien has never won this contest and he runs Washington Dc, who gets a nice swing in the weights with Marsha after finishing runner-up in the Prix De L'Abbaye when last seen. It will be interesting to see how Dancing Star goes dropped down to the minimum trip.