14:50 Newbury

Saturday 23 September 2017

All13:1513:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:05

Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 14:51 | Winning time: 1m 10.64s

(10)

Enjazaat²⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 103| D

11/2

Respectable effort in a Group 2 at Newmarket before appreciating the drop in class to Listed level at Ripon last time. Needs to improve again but trainer is going well in recent weeks and no surprise to see him progress.

Form: 0161

(2)

Grand Koonta⁷²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 94| D

9/1

Won at Windsor on third start and not disgraced in a Group 2 at Newmarket last time but needs to improve if he's to figure here. Yard in fine form with their juveniles this year and won this contest last year with Harry Angel so can't be ruled out.

Form: 4218

(7)

Invincible Army¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: M Harley| T: J Tate| OR: 109| BF| D

5/2

Has been in excellent form all year and yet to run a bad race. Won a Kempton Group 3 last time, producing a new track record in the process, suggesting he may want fast ground here. Obvious player if the rain stays away with more progress possible.

Form: 214221

(3)

James Garfield³¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: L Dettori| T: George Scott| OR: 106| D

10/3

Running well all season and followed a fine effort at Royal Ascot by winning a Doncaster maiden. Only just touched off at York last time and may have won if he stayed straight. Should appreciate the return to fast ground and more improvement likely.

Form: 33142

(8)

Lansky³¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Spencer| T: J Noseda| D

15/2

Well related colt who cost 300,000 gns at the Breeze-Ups and started repaying that price tag at Windsor on debut. Suspicion the ground went against him in a Group 3 at York last time but still ran well and less exposed than most in here.

Form: 13

(1)

Nebo²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: C Hills| OR: 109| BF| CD

15/2

Not won since his debut but largely running well in defeat. Proved a little disappointing at York last time out and may want softer ground to be seen to best effect but proven at this level at least.

Form: 19226

(6)

No I'm Easy³³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| D

25/1

Nice performance when runner-up on debut in a decent Ascot maiden and built on that with a win at Thirsk last time out. More improvement likely but plenty more needed in this company and yard have been a little quiet in recent weeks.

Form: 21

(4)

Rebel Streak³⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 81| BF

50/1

Still a maiden after four starts and couldn't justify short-priced favouritism at Newmarket last time out. Plenty to find at this level and others arrive with stronger claims.

Form: 4223

(9)

Staxton²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 103| D

14/1

Has won twice already having made his debut in July and not disgraced in a Group 2 at York last time out. Needs more again to figure here and plenty on to turn the form around with Invincible Army.

Form: 1215

Non-Runners

(5)

Helvetian⁹

Weight: 9-1| Age: 2

T: M R Channon J: Charles Bishop

Forecasts

Invincible Army (5/2), James Garfield (10/3), Enjazaat (11/2), Nebo (15/2), Lansky (15/2), Grand Koonta (9/1), Staxton (14/1), No I'm Easy (25/1), Helvetian (33/1), Rebel Streak (50/1)

INVINCIBLE ARMY is likely to be hard to beat provided the ground stays on the firm side and his win at Kempton last time out broke the track record. Clive Cox won this last year with star sprinter Harry Angel so it could be significant Grand Koonta finds himself in this race and connections have called him a non-runner several times of late, suggesting he may want faster ground that he should get here. Lanksy is another interesting runner who will appreciate the faster ground and may prove best of the rest in a competitive affair.