17:05 Newmarket

Saturday 19 August 2017

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

Randox Handicap

Off time: 17:07 | Winning time: 2m 36.18s

(6)

Farquhar¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: A Kirby| T: M Appleby| OR: 84| D

9/1

Takes a further drop in the weights here and still looks as though he's bubbling under for this stable having been capable off higher marks in the past. Hasn't won since 2014 though and his tendency to pull hard has ruined his last two starts (hood worn there removed now).

Form: 4/63806

(3)

Knight Music³⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Harry Bentley| T: M J Attwater| OR: 81| D

20/1

Dual handicap winner last year his form rather tailed off after his Brighton win which came off a 3lb higher mark. Now returns after a long break and always seen to best effect in a strongly run race but may need this outing after a long break.

Form: 219566-

(10)

Dolphin Village^h⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: T Eaves| T: S A Harris| OR: 79| CD

33/1

His last win came over this C&D (1lb lower mark) over a year ago when with his former yard he looks to be struggling a little for his current connections. Last two runs have been below-par and he's not shown that much sign of taking advantage of a reduced mark.

Form: 245387

(11)

Stone The Crows^p1⁵²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: K Shoemark| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 86| D

9/4

An emphatic winner of his maiden on his return this season at Salisbury (building on his good juvenile form) he's followed that up with two solid handicap runs both over this trip. Bumped into an improver last time and very much looks the type to progress in handicaps.

Form: 42-122

(4)

Opinionate¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: P J Dobbs| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 80

3/1

Was given a tough test on his handicap/seasonal debut in a rough race at Goodwood stepping up 3f in trip. Never really got the run of the race and better can be expected with this experience behind him graduating from what looked to be a strong race on form.

Form: 2-17

(9)

Okool³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Dane O'Neill| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 80

3/1

Put his experience to good use when winning his maiden over 1m2f at Nottingham and has run with credit without being totally convincing in two handicaps since. 0-80 company looked a little too competitive for him last time and others would be preferred.

Form: 56-2143

(5)

Star Of The East¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 79

8/1

Twice a winner as a juvenile over a mile he wasn't seen as a three-year-old until recently at Goodwood over 1m3f finding the company too tough after a long break. Should have come on for that run and may show more here though for a yard having an excellent season.

Form: 62161-0

(8)

Investigation^h1⁷³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| OR: 75

16/1

Very much looked the sort who would progress in handicaps after taking a staying maiden at Yarmouth but he looks to be going the wrong way in this sphere. Has refused to settle in both handicap starts and needs treating with caution here having looked a hard ride last time.

Form: 3190

Result Amended

Okool - Original Position 2nd. Amended Position 1st.

Star Of The East - Original Position 1st. Amended Position 2nd.

Non-Runners

(1)

Stock Hill Fair⁸⁴

Weight: 9-9| Age: 9

T: B G Powell J: S M Levey

(7)

Duke Of Bronte²³

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: B R Millman J: P Cosgrave

(2)

Koeman²⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: M R Channon J: J F Egan

Forecasts

Stone The Crows (9/4), Okool (3/1), Opinionate (3/1), Koeman (4/1), Duke Of Bronte (7/1), Star Of The East (8/1), Farquhar (9/1), Investigation (16/1), Stock Hill Fair (16/1), Knight Music (20/1), Dolphin Village (33/1)

Those at the top end of the handicap don’t make a lot of appeal and it may be best to concentrate on the three-year-old contingent here. Koeman goes on the hunt for a hat-trick and has to enter the equation with Opinionate also looking to have further progress in him. Duke Of Bronte could well bounce back from a poor run last time having shown enough to take a handicap like this but the real improver amongst the whole field is STONE THE CROWS who showed up well last time out and can one better here.