15:45 Newmarket

Friday 25 August 2017

All13:3514:0514:4015:1515:4516:2016:5517:25

Equine Supplements You Can Trust Handicap

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 2m 5.46s

(8)

Maratha⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: J Fortune| T: S C Williams| OR: 82

7/2

Showed improved form for the switch into handicaps last time at Nottingham winning off a mark of 76. Now makes her first start for a new yard and looks as though he can continue to improve stepping up to 1m2f for the first time.

Form: 2251

(5)

Torcello²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 81| D

7/4

Disappointed on his second maiden start but quickly showed that form to be all wrong when winning at Salisbury last time out. Showed a good attitude there and now steps into handicaps for the first time (trainer has a poor record with handicap debutantes).

Form: 231

(2)

Near Kettering²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: G Mosse| T: L M Cumani| OR: 79| BF| D

14/1

His two handicap starts haven't gone to plan so far and he looks to have work to do from his current mark. Well below form last time out (first run on soft ground) and needs to bounce back here against some improving types.

Form: 4159

(7)

Desert Dream²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 78

18/1

A winner of a Windsor maiden everything pointed towards a successful handicap career but he's been well below his best on both starts in this sphere. First-time cheekpieces didn't appear to work last time and he's left with questions to answer here.

Form: 7-5158

(1)

Ply⁷⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Harry Bentley| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 75

4/1

Showed definite promise in maidens without winning and backed up that opinion on his handicap debut at Kempton Park over 1m3f. Showed there that there may well be more to come and certainly of interest on his second handicap start.

Form: 2505

(6)

Balashakh^h⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Joey Haynes| T: D M Simcock| OR: 74

8/1

Like a couple of these had shown promise in maidens without winning with handicaps sure to show him in a better light. That duly happened on his first start in the sphere (hooded first time) when second at Salisbury and improvement expected.

Form: 43-322

(4)

Drumochter¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R Winston| T: C Hills| OR: 74| D

11/1

Handicaps have seen her in a better light and she made the most of an easy opportunity at Bath last time over this trip (soft ground). Raised 6lb for that win she has more to do here but has further progress in her and remains with potential.

Form: 73531

(3)

Lunar Jet⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: J Quinn| T: J Mackie| OR: 70

20/1

His first three runs in handicaps all showed promise and progress to varying degrees (looked unlucky a couple of times). However his last two starts have been well below form and he has questions to answer here now.

Form: 4-04276

Forecasts

Torcello (7/4), Maratha (7/2), Ply (4/1), Balashakh (8/1), Drumochter (11/1), Near Kettering (14/1), Desert Dream (18/1), Lunar Jet (20/1)

There are a few on a recovery mission here along with some that are improving and it’s the improvers that are the group to side with. Maratha looks as though he can continue his upward curve but does have to concede weight to the entire field here and that may prove a tough task. Drumochter has more to do under a 6lb rise in the weights but should still go well with Ply and BALASHAKH looking the real unexposed pair who have plenty more to come. Both are respected here and it’s only by a slight margin that the verdict goes to the latter of the duo.