17:10 Newbury

Saturday 20 May 2017

All13:5014:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:10

Toronado Handicap

Off time: 17:14 | Winning time: 1m 44.60s

(1)

Brex Drago³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: A Fresu| T: M Botti| OR: 98| D

33/1

Four-time Listed winner and contested a couple of Group 3 contests in his native Italy but not shown anything for the switch to this yard over in Meydan and similar story at Newmarket last time on GB debut. Likely to need relief from the handicapper.

Form: 2-36300

(4)

Dark Red²³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: R L Moore| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 96

12/1

Rattled off a hat-trick last year but not sure to enjoy this step back in trip and this may be a pipe opener in preparation for more valuable contests such as the Cambridgeshire later in the season.

Form: 114200-

(9)

Candelisa^p⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 94

7/1

Just one win from 13 starts and while he's been running well in defeat, there's little doubt that others look better handicapped. Won't mind the ground at least.

Form: 55337-3

(3)

Raising Sand⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: D C Costello| T: J A Osborne| OR: 94| D

16/1

Haydock winner in October and heavily punted before the off at Doncaster last time but pulled up half-way after reportedly losing his action. Similar conditions here so may be able to gain compensation and already proven over a straight mile on soft ground.

Form: 12117-P

(12)

Withernsea⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 93

12/1

Failed to get his head in front this season and he's been a bit below form in two starts this year. Has shaped like a non-stayer on previous attempts at this trip but doesn't mind cut in the ground at least.

Form: 0028-90

(2)

Sinfonietta⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Harry Bentley| T: D Menuisier| OR: 92| D

3/1

Improved plenty last summer when winning in heavy ground at Nottingham before running good races in three Class 2 handicaps. Returned in fine form this season when only just touched off at Doncaster by Ballet Concerto and only up 2lb for that effort. Could be more to come.

Form: 12426-2

(13)

El Hayem⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 92| BF| D

4/1

Bags of promise in his comeback run at this course earlier in the season and not given a hard time once his chance had gone at Chester last time when finishing runner-up. Still learning and less exposed than most in this field so he should give another good account from just a 2lb higher mark.

Form: 4129-62

(6)

Top Beak^t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: H Morrison| OR: 90| D

9/1

Winner on debut but hasn't managed to get off the mark since. Unlucky in defeat on a couple of occasions and produced a promising run on his comeback here last month; may do even better in softer ground so has to be considered.

Form: 02224-3

(8)

Brigliadoro³²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: P J McBride| OR: 90| D

20/1

Only recorded one win from his last 18 starts but knocking on the door with some of his more recent efforts. Produced his best runs on quicker ground than what he will get here though and he's opposable off 10lb higher than his last winning mark.

Form: 16224-5

(11)

Calvados Spirit⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: M Dwyer| T: W R Muir| OR: 89| C

25/1

Won on turf off 77 last season and made light of a 4lb higher mark to score on the AW at Wolverhampton last time out. This is a lot tougher and, given that he has another 8lb on his back, he looks opposable with the yard a little quiet. Engaged at Newmarket Friday.

Form: 45100-1

(15)

Mutarakez¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Kieren Fox| T: B J Meehan| OR: 87| D

10/1

Promising start to his career but looks on the downgrade currently and well beaten on all recent starts. Likely to need more relief from the handicapper.

Form: 00-5088

(14)

Grand Inquisitor²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: F Norton| T: Ian Williams| OR: 86| D

14/1

Started off his career in impressive fashion but not got his head in front since June 2015. Certainly on a lenient mark if back to anything like his best but he has run two very poor races on two starts for this yard and has a bit to prove at present.

Form: 2977-90

(10)

Bold Prediction¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-2| J: Liam Jones| T: E Walker| OR: 85| D

50/1

Losing run stands at 14 now but fallen to a fair handicap mark as a result. Looks better suited to AW surfaces than turf though and shown very little form on ground worse than good.

Form: 343463

(7)

Medburn Dream¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Richard Oliver⁽⁵⁾| T: P Henderson| OR: 83| D

20/1

Well suited to a mile on soft ground and he ran well from out of the handicap at Goodwood last time. Dangerous if he's allowed an early lead on the front end with conditions in his favour and connections clearly think he is capable in this level of contest.

Form: 9970-36

(5)

Zlatan^p⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Noel Garbutt⁽³⁾| T: E De Giles| OR: 79| D

16/1

Steadily progressed through last season and showed he's not done just yet with a win at Nottingham last time. Doesn't always give his all in a finish though and he will find this a whole lot tougher upped in class.

Form: 1212-71

Non-Runners

(16)

Kyllachy Gala²¹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: M Botti J: L Dettori

(17)

Bunbury¹⁷

Weight: 8-4| Age: 5

T: R Hughes J: Ryan Tate

Forecasts

Sinfonietta (3/1), El Hayem (4/1), Candelisa (7/1), Kyllachy Gala (8/1), Top Beak (9/1), Mutarakez (10/1), Withernsea (12/1), Dark Red (12/1), Bunbury (12/1), Grand Inquisitor (14/1), Zlatan (16/1), Raising Sand (16/1), Brigliadoro (20/1), Medburn Dream (20/1), Calvados Spirit (25/1), Brex Drago (33/1), Bold Prediction (50/1)

EL HAYEM was well backed before his recent effort at Chester and while he failed to land the odds, he's still unexposed and capable of better. Sinfonietta ran a solid race on return last time and may come on for that while Medburn Dream shouldn't be ruled out despite racing from out of the handicap, with the softer ground likely to see him in a better light.