16:15 Newmarket

Saturday 12 August 2017

All14:0014:3515:0515:4016:1516:5017:20

BBAG-sales.de Handicap

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 1m 25.97s

(4)

That Is The Spirit⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Bentley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 99| D

8/1

Won a 7f Listed race in 2015 on soft ground but not quite at that level nowadays, even though he scored at Chelmsford in April. Decent enough effort when third at Thirsk (7f, good to soft) latest but remains there to be shot at off this sort of mark.

Form: 136533

(6)

Accession⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Martin Lane| T: C Fellowes| OR: 94| D

10/1

Gained the last of six career wins when scoring emphatically over 7f here (soft) early last season and has shown up well in defeat on a few occasions since. Mark is beginning to slide, so possibly worth a look with easy ground in his favour.

Form: 233-587

(8)

Suzi's Connoisseur^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S C Williams| OR: 91| D

11/1

As low in the weights as he's ever been since his juvenile days but hasn't shown much since winning on the AW at Newcastle in February. Still, suited by an easy surface, so could feasibly pop up if putting best foot forward.

Form: 516000

(9)

Khamaary¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Dane O'Neill| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 96

5/2

Opened up with two wins at Redcar and, though a beaten favourite the next twice, she regained the winning threat in good style on soft ground over an extended 7f at Lingfield last month. More to do from 6lb higher but open to further improvement.

Form: 1-1251

(3)

War Glory¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 89| BF| D

5/2

Both wins have come on the AW and he hasn't looked quite as effective on turf, though not disgraced when third behind Truth Or Dare at Goodwood (7f, soft) last week. May just need some relief from the handicapper before winning again.

Form: 225453

(2)

The Warrior¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: K Shoemark| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 87

12/1

A winner for Aidan O'Brien in his younger days but has just one AW success to show for this yard. Well behind War Glory in the race won by Truth Or Dare at Glorious Goodwood (7f, soft) last week.

Form: 382507

(7)

Gulliver^t,v¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: James Doyle| T: H Palmer| OR: 90| D

4/1

Looked a nice prospect when winning a 7f maiden at York (good) last back-end but disappointing initially this season. Better signs on his first run since being gelded when a runner-up at Yarmouth over 6f (good to firm) and likely to appreciate the return to 7f. Respected.

Form: 31-7402

Non-Runners

(1)

Von Blucher¹⁴

Weight: 9-12| Age: 4

T: R Menzies J: P J McDonald

(5)

Easy Tiger²

Weight: 8-13| Age: 5

T: M S Saunders J: J P Fahy

Forecasts

War Glory (5/2), Khamaary (5/2), Gulliver (4/1), Von Blucher (6/1), That Is The Spirit (8/1), Easy Tiger (8/1), Accession (10/1), Suzi's Connoisseur (11/1), The Warrior (12/1)

Competitive stuff with the improving Khamaary, Gulliver and Accession all making varying levels of appeal for different reasons. The answer, however, may lie in northern raider VON BLUCHER given that the one-time John Gosden inmate signalled a return to his best form when finishing a fine third in an arguably stronger event on easy ground at York last time out.