17:20 Newbury

Saturday 22 July 2017

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Grundon Recycling Handicap

Off time: 17:20 | Winning time: 2m 43.00s

(1)

Harlow^h⁷⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: H Palmer| OR: 84

10/1

Emphatic winner on his debut at Newcastle but form of that race hasn't really worked out and he has struggled twice since, most recently over 1m2f (good to firm) at Newmarket. Improvement needed as he steps up in trip with hood restored (worn first two runs).

Form: 138

(6)

Intellect²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 80

11/4

Something amiss on his debut but took full advantage of a good opportunity when winning over 1m2f (soft) at Nottingham next time out two months later. Longer trip should suit for his handicap debut and an easy surface evidently no problem.

Form: 61

(8)

Wefait²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 80

7/1

Was winning for the second time in eight starts when driven out to score at Windsor (extended 1m3f, good to firm) by 1L from The Secrets Out last month. More to do from 3lb higher in a better race and unproven on an easy surface.

Form: 212341

(7)

Knight Destroyer⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Fran Berry| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 77| D

3/1

No impact in maidens but a different proposition in handicaps, scoring with ease at Chepstow (1m4f, soft) last month, leaving four subsequent winners trailing in his wake. Looks very much a player on this ground, even allowing for a 9lb rise.

Form: 979-21

(2)

Munstead Star⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 77

11/2

Bred for stamina and has shaped encouragingly in three maidens so far between 1m and an extended 1m5f, most recently when a runner-up behind Perfect in Pink on an easy surface at Leicester. Opening handicap mark looks reasonable.

Form: 8-32

(3)

Star Maker²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Jim Crowley| T: S Kirk| OR: 74| D

7/1

Finally obliged at the 14th time of asking when scoring at Lingfield (extended 1m3f, good) last time out but ensuing 6lb rise looks on the harsh side. Has handled an easy surface previously but always vulnerable to less exposed types.

Form: 372371

(4)

Amelia Dream¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: S De Sousa| T: M R Channon| OR: 72| D

15/2

Took advantage of a falling mark when getting up late to open her account at the ninth attempt at Leicester (1m4f, good to firm). Probably a big ask to defy a 4lb rise in a much better race.

Form: 844351

Non-Runners

(5)

Petitioner³⁸

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: H & R Charlton J: K Shoemark

(9)

Romanor¹²

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: E Walker J: Liam Keniry

(10)

Zack Mayo¹⁹

Weight: 8-12| Age: 3

T: P J McBride J: Cam Hardie

Forecasts

Intellect (11/4), Knight Destroyer (3/1), Petitioner (5/1), Munstead Star (11/2), Wefait (7/1), Star Maker (7/1), Amelia Dream (15/2), Zack Mayo (8/1), Harlow (10/1), Romanor (20/1)

The form of KNIGHT DESTROYER'S emphatic soft-ground win at Chepstow on his handicap debut could hardly have worked out better and, even allowing for a 9lb rise, he could take some stopping on the forecast ground. Roger Charlton's one-time Derby entry, Petitioner, may give the selection most to think about if able to translate his promising AW form to the turf whilst Intellect is also a potential threat stepping up in trip.