17:55 Newmarket

Wednesday 18 April 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:55

bet365 Handicap

Off time: 17:57 | Winning time: 2m 9.49s

(10)

Old Persian¹⁷⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 94| BF| C

5/2

Improved from debut to win next two starts, the latter a success here over 1m. Finished off the season with a below par effort in Listed company but form of his previous win has been franked and fair chance he's on a nice mark for handicap debut.

Form: 3117-

(8)

Regimented¹⁷³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: R L Moore| T: R Hannon| OR: 93

20/1

Consistent sort, two wins from six starts and shaped like a step up in trip would suit at Doncaster last time when runner-up in a Class 3. Others may be on better handicap marks but not dismissed if he's improved through the winter.

Form: 131262-

(3)

Bow Street¹⁶²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 92

10/3

Improved with each start as a juvenile, winning at Kempton in fine fashion last time out, though may not have needed to improve to win that. Handicapper taken no chances and he's second string on jockey bookings.

Form: 321-

(7)

Casey Jones¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: K T O'Neill| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 92| D

11/1

Unbeaten in three starts and completed the hat-trick on handicap debut at Newcastle in game fashion. Likely to need more here but yard did win this last year and not dismissed on turf debut.

Form: 111

(5)

Beautiful Memory^h³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 90| D

16/1

Improved for the step up in trip on third start and duly rattled off an AW hat-trick. May want faster ground back on turf but not dismissed and handicap mark looks fair.

Form: 33-111

(6)

Dukhan¹⁷⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: H Palmer| OR: 87

9/1

Ran well here on first two starts on the July course and improved when stepped up in trip on AW at Chelmsford last time. Plenty to like about the manner of that effort and may improve further now stepped up in trip again back on turf.

Form: 241-

(2)

Jazeel¹⁸⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Charles Bishop| T: M R Channon| OR: 87| BF

16/1

Placed on latest two AW starts but looks a bit exposed compared to some of these. Yard started the season in fine form with their younger horses so not ruled out but likely to need improvement to figure.

Form: 31822-

(9)

Baileys Excelerate¹⁸⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 86

14/1

Improving sort, a winner at Beverley on fast ground on second start and runner-up twice subsequently. Handicap mark perhaps a little harsh on what he's achieved though.

Form: 3122-

(11)

Istanbul Sultan¹⁸⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: S De Sousa| T: W J Haggas| OR: 81

6/1

Still looked green on second start but improved to dead-heat at Goodwood last time. Takes another small step up in trip and looks on a fair mark for his return.

Form: 521-

(4)

Danceteria¹⁸⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: P Hanagan| T: D Menuisier| OR: 79

20/1

Well beaten in two maidens and while he placed in a novice race in between those two efforts, the form of that race looks weak.

Form: 634-

Non-Runners

(1)

Zoraya¹⁸⁵

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: P & O Cole J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Old Persian (5/2), Bow Street (10/3), Istanbul Sultan (6/1), Dukhan (9/1), Casey Jones (11/1), Zoraya (12/1), Baileys Excelerate (14/1), Jazeel (16/1), Beautiful Memory (16/1), Regimented (20/1), Danceteria (20/1)

OLD PERSIAN shades the vote on handicap debut. He may have disappointed when favourite for a Listed race last time out but he was too free in the early stages and could be a different prospect on return here. Dukhan may carry on improving with another step up in trip here while last year's winner of this, John Gosden, saddles the unbeaten Casey Jones who should be thereabouts if he proves as effective on turf.