16:05 Newbury

Friday 20 April 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:3517:05

Compton Beauchamp Estates Ltd Silver Bar Handicap

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 4m 11.33s

(10)

Cape Cova^p1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: P J McDonald| T: M Appleby| OR: 98

20/1

Useful handicapper for John Gosden but looks high enough in the weights for now and very disappointing on reappearance run at Musselburgh last month. Well above his last highest mark. Wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 4302-50

(2)

Jukebox Jive^t⁹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: J F Egan| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 97| CD

6/1

Followed up a win here with a respectable effort in Listed company at Newmarket last September. Followed that up with a win over hurdles but his Listed form didn't go unnoticed by the handicapper and he struggled off his revised mark last time.

Form: 31914-4

(3)

Sandro Botticelli^p³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: L Dettori| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 95

33/1

Listed winner at Sandown in 2016 but he's been very disappointing subsequently and last couple of Flat runs have been particularly poor. Fit from a run over hurdles recently but hard to fancy.

Form: 90/45-57

(7)

Keep In Line³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: M Harley| T: A King| OR: 90| C

25/1

Has proved to be a useful dual purpose performer but he's been very poor on two AW runs since returned to the Flat. On a nice enough mark if he can bounce back though.

Form: 1700/89

(1)

Golden Birthday^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Fran Berry| T: H Fry| OR: 90| BF| D

4/1

On a long winning streak last year, winning his last five starts of 2017 across both codes. May have needed his comeback run at Lingfield last time and not out of this stepped back up in trip given that he's unexposed on the Flat.

Form: 111-5

(6)

Injam²⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: G Lee| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 90

9/1

Won two of his three starts last summer, latest effort at Doncaster was impressive. Only 5lb higher here but the significant absence is a concern and he may need the run.

Form: 00/8151-

(5)

Coeur de Lion³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A King| OR: 88

7/2

Very consistent on his more recent Flat starts, winning at Southwell in February. While he's not been in the same form over hurdles, he has obvious place chances back on the Flat only up 5lb for his most recent effort.

Form: 32/123-1

(8)

Look My Way³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 90

6/1

Signed off his time with Andrew Balding with a facile success at Haydock and 11lb hike for that effort justified. Has proven to be smart over hurdles also and he's a player if he acts on the drying ground.

Form: 232391-

(4)

Champagne Champ¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: George Wood⁽³⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 86

9/2

Not won on the Flat since 2016 but he was running well throughout last season without getting his head in front. Back down to his last winning mark now and gets the assistance of a highly rated 3lb claimer. Interesting runner.

Form: 03522-5

(9)

Medburn Cutler^p¹⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: J Fanning| T: P Hedger| OR: 77| D

25/1

Tends to come on for his first run and a strong stayer in handicap company. Ran well on stable debut at the end of last season but looks really up against it from out of the weights here.

Form: 042733-

Forecasts

Coeur de Lion (7/2), Golden Birthday (4/1), Champagne Champ (9/2), Look My Way (6/1), Jukebox Jive (6/1), Injam (9/1), Cape Cova (20/1), Medburn Cutler (25/1), Keep In Line (25/1), Sandro Botticelli (33/1)

The Alan King pair in this both have solid claims for different reasons. Coeur de Lion is a consistent sort going in the right direction while Keep In Line is well-handicapped if he can find some form. CHAMPAGNE CHAMP shades the vote back down to his last winning mark with a smart apprentice taking the ride and claiming 3lb off his back.