14:10 Newmarket

Saturday 19 August 2017

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:40

Randox Health Grey Horse Handicap

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 1m 13.54s

(13)

Dark Power^t⁶^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 10-2| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 85| D

7/4

Having won his last two starts he's clearly on the up and looks an improving three-year-old but now faces a stiff task under a penalty for his latest win. Showed a good attitude on his last couple starts with a tongue-tie on for both of those wins.

Form: 21-511

(5)

Syrian Pearl¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Harry Bentley| T: C F Wall| OR: 79| CD

11/2

The winner of this race last year off the same mark she was in a purple patch then following up the following month at Nottingham off a 3lb higher mark. Started the year on a career high mark and although that mark is falling her increasingly slow starts are becoming a problem.

Form: 11-9766

(1)

Jersey Breeze⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J F Egan| T: M R Channon| OR: 78| D

16/1

Both her wins this year have taken place over 6f and two recent outing over a furlong shorter have looked to test her. Returned to 6f last time out she ran a poor race and she needs to bounce back to her best here.

Form: 118639

(6)

Buccaneers Vault¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: P J Dobbs| T: P T Midgley| OR: 73| D

10/1

Usually plies his trade in a slightly lesser grade but with his mark falling back below his last winning one he remains of interest. His best recent run was when taking the runner-up slot at Doncaster on his penultimate start and a reproduction of that would see him go close here.

Form: 354428

(9)

Case Key^p³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: B A Curtis| T: M Appleby| OR: 73| D

8/1

Has now run three respectable races since being equipped with cheekpieces and looks as though he's ready to win a race of this nature. Showed that he was in good spirits when runner-up at Yarmouth last time and he's a player in this contest.

Form: 60-5422

(12)

Fareeq^t¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: T Eaves| T: C Wallis| OR: 75| D

50/1

Soft ground on his first couple of runs this year (both over7f) haven't shown him in the best light (was with William Haggas then) and looked far better suited by the better ground on his first run for this yard recently. Still above his last winning mark though and that makes life tough here.

Form: 312-595

(7)

Zebulon⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 74| D

25/1

Has found his form on a couple of occasions this year most notably when winning a Bath maiden over 6f and the recent tests over a mile can't really be said to have suited him. Has to overcome a poor run last time out to figure here with the handicapper not giving him any respite.

Form: 516346

(4)

He's My Boy^v⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: George Wood⁽³⁾| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 67| CD

20/1

Twice a winner last year and a previous C&D winner his form this year hasn't shown any signs as yet that he's a backable proposition. Ran poorly in a visor last time out and tried in the same headgear here dropping back 1f in trip.

Form: 3510-98

(10)

Vincenzo Coccotti⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Hollie Doyle⁽³⁾| T: K O Cunningham-Brown| OR: 66| D

8/1

Won three times last year (just once on turf) with his mark being pushed as high as 71 by the end of the year. Now back down to his last winning mark (66) and showed signs last time out that he was coming back to form.

Form: 155-663

(8)

Champagne Bob⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁷⁾| T: R J Price| OR: 63| D

14/1

Ended a long losing run recently when scoring back-to-back victories at Chepstow and Newbury under two different apprentices. Two subsequent runs though have seen his progress halted and he was below-par on his latest starts over 6f at Haydock.

Form: 331147

(11)

Le Manege Enchante^v⁴^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: P Mathers| T: D Shaw| OR: 54| D

14/1

Takes a big rise in grade here having only won in 0-60 class last time taking advantage of a fair drop in the weights and some new headgear (visor). The headgear appeared to have a positive effect but that may not continue and this is tougher.

Form: 2-83471

(3)

Time Medicean^t⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 8-0| J: Sophie Ralston⁽⁷⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 56| CD

25/1

You have to go all the way back to 2014 to find his last win and although he still looks to have something to offer this grade looks far too tough for him from out of the handicap. Would be a surprise winner and passed over here.

Form: 247-824

Non-Runners

(2)

Cheval Blanche³⁵

Weight: 9-10| Age: 3

T: M L W Bell J: K Shoemark

(14)

Cappananty Con¹⁹

Weight: 9-4| Age: 3

T: D K Ivory J: J Fanning

Forecasts

Dark Power (7/4), Syrian Pearl (11/2), Cheval Blanche (7/1), Case Key (8/1), Vincenzo Coccotti (8/1), Cappananty Con (8/1), Buccaneers Vault (10/1), Le Manege Enchante (14/1), Champagne Bob (14/1), Jersey Breeze (16/1), He's My Boy (20/1), Zebulon (25/1), Time Medicean (25/1), Fareeq (50/1)

A competitive start for this eclectic race with last year’s winner Syrian Pearl worthy of a mention although she doesn’t come into this in quite the same form as last year. Dark Power will be a popular selection for many as he carries a penalty into this searching for a three-timer although top weight gives him a tough task. The Dean Ivory stable have been in good form of late and Cappananty Con must have a chance here along with Cheval Blanche is she can bounce back from some hard races. CASE KEY has been hitting the crossbar of late but arrives here in good order and deserves to win a race like this and he just shades the main vote over Buccaneers Vault who looks interesting of his falling mark.