15:45 Newbury

Saturday 21 April 2018

All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Elite Racing Club Supporting Greatwood Spring Cup Handicap (Str)

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 1m 40.88s

(13)

Born To Be Alive²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: C Lee⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 104| D

16/1

Didn't flourish in Dubai but back to something like best form when runner-up behind odds-on jolly in Doncaster Mile latest. Quite lightly-raced and potential for better still to come.

Form: 32-7402

(12)

Tony Curtis²⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: R L Moore| T: R Hannon| OR: 104| D

10/1

Put up two top class efforts in big handicaps last year despite only running on three occasions, with his final Goodwood run suggesting he has a big race within him. Big field handicaps with a strong pace suit and of interest here with Moore booked.

Form: 444/742-

(21)

Gabrial²²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: S W Kelly| T: R A Fahey| OR: 103| D

25/1

Seasoned campaigner who produced another big run in the Lincoln at Doncaster last month. Continues to thrive and not hard to see him threatening place money again. Vulnerable for the win.

Form: 3-23847

(14)

Ballard Down^v²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: M Harley| T: W J Knight| OR: 102| D

25/1

Canford Cliffs gelding recorded a 3½L win in a Class 2 Handicap at Newmarket (1m, soft) on final start last season. Shaped as if needing the run last month at Doncaster having gone up 9lb but too soon to be discounting him.

Form: 21521-0

(15)

Elusive Heights²⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Ben Sanderson⁽⁷⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 100| D

40/1

Useful gelding ran creditable races at Leopardstown last summer over 1m (Listed) and 1m2f (handicap) for Ger Lyons. Handles any ground seemingly and capable of going well fresh. First start for new trainer.

Form: 022/298-

(6)

George William^h1⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 99| D

22/1

Understandably well fended off in Balmoral Handicap at Ascot (1m, soft) on final start last season from lofty mark, fit from exertions in Dubai this spring and on better terms here sporting first-time hood.

Form: 0310-90

(5)

Contrapposto³³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: K Shoemark| T: D Menuisier| OR: 99| D

40/1

Not the easiest to train, respectable 4L fourth behind Eminent in the Craven at Newmarket last season, off 338 days after just one more run since and handicapper hasn't taken any risks.

Form: 5219/40-

(11)

Repercussion^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 98| D

10/1

Won a French maiden for Andre Fabre and eventually came good for this yard when readily winning a Newmarket handicap (1m, good to soft) on final run last season. Entitled to be fitter for 6L fifth of 20 in Doncaster Mile last month.

Form: 76241-5

(18)

Afaak²⁰⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 97| D

6/1

Regally bred colt not disgraced despite some tough assignments last season, with two wins in seven starts. Form of Newmarket second last time out looks very strong with winner hosing up in the Lincoln at Doncaster last month.

Form: 117442-

(8)

Star Archer^h²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: H Palmer| OR: 96| D

20/1

Returned from 464-day absence with couple of AW wins at Wolverhampton early this year, though well fended off on AW Championship Finals Day at Lingfield (1m2f) this month. Back down in trip and something to prove off this rating on turf.

Form: 16/1139

(25)

Leader Writer^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Fran Berry| T: H Spiller| OR: 96| D

12/1

Impressed when taking 1m Ascot handicap in September off a mark of 92. Held thereafter from higher marks and plenty to work on based on last month's Doncaster Mile effort (beaten over 10L).

Form: 0310-48

(22)

Master Carpenter¹⁷⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: B R Millman| OR: 95| D

25/1

Hit and miss character these days, best form last season came over longer trips and would require dramatic turnaround on reappearance. Beaten almost 10L in this last year and only 2lb lower now.

Form: 007440-

(10)

Third Time Lucky²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 95| D

20/1

Just one win in an AW race since taking the 2015 Cambridgeshire, rapidly backed out of things in Irish Lincolnshire at Naas last month (1m, soft to heavy) and others appear far more likely now.

Form: 93-7630

(16)

Taqdeer²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 95| BF| D

4/1

Returned from near 700-day absence in Spring Mile at Doncaster (soft) last month, shaping well for a long way before tiring. Runs off the same mark now and not discounted with that promising effort behind him.

Form: 211/7

(24)

Humbert^p²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Josephine Gordon| T: H Palmer| OR: 94| D

11/1

Finished a neck second in Spring Mile at Doncaster last month, allaying any fears over soft ground in doing so, up 4lb for his trouble but should be competitive again.

Form: 6/1-1122

(19)

Lord Of The Rock²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 94| D

11/1

Impressive winner of a Class 3 Handicap at York in July (1m, good to soft) before finishing campaign with pair of poor efforts. 3L fourth of 20 in Spring Mile at Doncaster last month off this mark on return to action.

Form: 0/0100-4

(9)

Graphite Storm¹⁹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 94| BF| C

20/1

Some useful efforts in seven starts last term, winning over 7f at Leicester in September, subsequently well held at Ascot off this mark over same trip and will have to improve on return.

Form: 275216-

(1)

Keyser Soze³⁰³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: J P Spencer| T: R Spencer| OR: 93

25/1

Thirsk maiden winner this time last year, followed that up in 7f AW handicap at Kempton before finishing tailed off in Royal Ascot handicap (1m, good to firm). Returns from absence with plenty to find.

Form: 457/110-

(7)

Mazyoun^b¹⁷³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: P Cosgrave| T: H Palmer| OR: 93| D

33/1

Fair handicapper last season, scoring on first attempt over a mile at Yarmouth in September and beaten only 1L next time off this mark at Leicester, not fully exposed over the trip and handles forecast ground.

Form: 415914-

(17)

Gilgamesh¹⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: W Buick| T: George Scott| OR: 92

12/1

Well held on debut in Newmarket maiden in July 2016 but won four from five starts since. Not beaten far on AW at Chelmsford in November off this rating, has scope for doing better still and respected.

Form: 81/1114-

(23)

Prost¹⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: David Probert| T: E F Vaughan| OR: 88| D

50/1

Last spotted training home in 1m1½f Listed contest at Deauville in November. Gelding has yet to open account on turf and would be a shock winner.

Form: 472610-

(4)

Fox Trotter¹⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: M Dwyer| T: B J Meehan| OR: 85

50/1

Strike rate on turf is just 2-28, most recently obliging in 7f Class 3 Sandown handicap in July on soft ground from 3lb lower mark. Returns from a break and faces a stiff task this afternoon.

Form: 616300-

Non-Runners

(20)

Hors De Combat⁶⁵

Weight: 9-9| Age: 7

T: D J Coakley J: Oisin Murphy

(3)

Red Label⁷⁷

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: M Botti J: Non Runner

(2)

Pattie²²

Weight: 8-5| Age: 4

T: M R Channon J: J F Egan

Forecasts

Taqdeer (4/1), Afaak (6/1), Repercussion (10/1), Tony Curtis (10/1), Humbert (11/1), Lord Of The Rock (11/1), Gilgamesh (12/1), Leader Writer (12/1), Born To Be Alive (16/1), Third Time Lucky (20/1), Graphite Storm (20/1), Star Archer (20/1), Hors De Combat (20/1), George William (22/1), Keyser Soze (25/1), Gabrial (25/1), Master Carpenter (25/1), Ballard Down (25/1), Red Label (25/1), Mazyoun (33/1), Pattie (33/1), Elusive Heights (40/1), Contrapposto (40/1), Fox Trotter (50/1), Prost (50/1)

The form of Afaak's final start last term was well and truly franked when Addeybb put the Lincoln field to the sword last month, his credentials are clear on that showing, though the market will reflect that. Born To Be Alive was a good scorer himself on Town Moor last time while Tony Curtis should be suited by the helter-skelter of this contest. Elusive Heights has the potential to get involved on first start for his new connections but it might be worth forgiving BALLARD DOWN a poor run in the Lincoln. He sluiced home at Newmarket on just his third start on turf last summer and wasn't exactly well drawn last time. There could easily be more to come.