17:30 Newbury

Saturday 21 April 2018

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

Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Handicap

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 2m 11.31s

(15)

Pivoine^p1²¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 90| D

7/1

Finished last season with a couple of successes for Sir Michael Stoute, including over this trip on good to soft at Doncaster on final start. 7lb higher and sports first-time cheekpieces on return for new handler.

Form: 1/99411-

(17)

Road To Dubai³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Hayley Turner| T: George Scott| OR: 88| D

10/1

Won his final two starts last season in turf handicaps over this trip at Redcar and Windsor (latest off 82), should be fitter for AW spin at Wolverhampton last month and handles cut in ground.

Form: 54411-4

(4)

Adamant³⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 86| D

11/2

Two wins from three starts so far, gamely running on to land handicap debut success at Salisbury (1m2f, good to firm) 356 days ago. Rated 5lb higher on belated follow up attempt but represents powerful connections and commands plenty respect still.

Form: 41/1-

(14)

Stamford Raffles²¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: S Donohoe| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 85

33/1

Haydock winner over 1m6f on good ground last summer, best form has come over longer trips and had lost his way when last spotted. Watching brief seems safest on return.

Form: 1/21200-

(5)

Man Of Harlech⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: P Cosgrave| T: J R Boyle| OR: 84| D

25/1

Plummeting in the weights following four runs after an absence. Former useful handicapper for Andrew Balding and won as a three-year-old on soft ground but needs to find more.

Form: 50/5944

(16)

Carry Me Home⁵⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: David Probert| T: C Hills| OR: 84| D

25/1

Making up into a useful handicapper over 1m4f when last spotted in the autumn of 2016. Long absence to overcome now and suspicion that soft ground won't see him to best effect.

Form: 202314/

(6)

Buzz²⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Liam Keniry| T: H Morrison| OR: 83

10/1

Lightly-raced Motivator gelding with just an AW maiden success from four starts. Ran well enough in 1m2f good-ground handicap at Sandown in July when last spotted but considerable improvement needed on this return to action on that evidence.

Form: 51/02-

(8)

Fast Dancer²⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Finley Marsh⁽⁵⁾| T: J Tuite| OR: 83

25/1

Beaten just ½L in soft ground event over C&D in August, fairly mixed record fresh however and not holding any secrets from the handicapper it seems.

Form: 317244-

(12)

Never Surrender²³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: C Hills| OR: 83| D

12/1

Maiden winner at Chester last summer but generally found it tough going thereafter in handicaps, has been give some relief now (2lb) but still must find something extra. Yard in promising form.

Form: 517799-

(11)

Zzoro²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Jim Crowley| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 82| D

10/1

Likely front-runner produced a solid enough effort on return last month at Doncaster (1m2f, soft) when fading to 4L third of 12 off this mark. Won second time up last season in not dissimilar fashion at Newmarket and merits consideration.

Form: 45560-3

(9)

Rake's Progress²²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: David Egan⁽³⁾| T: H Main| OR: 81| CD

7/1

Sir Percy gelding was a C&D winner last summer on soft going from a mark 8lb lower than today. Not disgraced in two runs thereafter in decent Ascot handicaps over 1m4f and capable of going well fresh. Needs a market check.

Form: 135148-

(2)

Sparte Quercus¹⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 81| D

12/1

Only debuted last season as a four-year-old and picked up two wins in nine turf starts, including over this trip at Chepstow on good to soft in September. Can be competitive on these terms if fully wound up for this return to action.

Form: 312235-

(13)

Dragons Voice²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: J P Spencer| T: P Hide| OR: 80

25/1

Three wins from six starts on turf this far and could remain progressive, first attempt over this longer trip and potentially needs to improve in this company.

Form: 31081-5

(3)

Lunar Jet¹⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: J Quinn| T: J Mackie| OR: 78| BF| D

8/1

Consistent sort, though just 1-9 so far on turf. That win came over this trip on soft ground at Goodwood in September. Competitive from this 7lb higher mark in sole outing since at Windsor and back now from winter break.

Form: 276214-

(18)

Garbanzo⁴⁸⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: S De Sousa| T: E Walker| OR: 75

12/1

Looked modest in trio of maidens, two on AW, back towards the end of 2016. Returns from long absence for handicap bow with champion jockey booked for shrewd yard and worth paying attention to in the betting.

Form: 633/

(1)

Hats Off To Larry¹⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: J F Egan| T: M R Channon| OR: 75

12/1

Sixties Icon gelding couldn't get off the mark in maidens last season, but the best of his efforts came over this trip at Lingfield and Goodwood. Handicap debut on return to action and don't discount an improved showing.

Form: 333244-

Non-Runners

(10)

Flight Of Fantasy⁸⁹

Weight: 8-12| Age: 4

T: H J L Dunlop J: K Shoemark

(7)

Bid Adieu¹⁷

Weight: 8-9| Age: 4

T: R Hughes J: S W Kelly

Forecasts

Adamant (11/2), Rake's Progress (7/1), Pivoine (7/1), Lunar Jet (8/1), Buzz (10/1), Road To Dubai (10/1), Zzoro (10/1), Never Surrender (12/1), Hats Off To Larry (12/1), Garbanzo (12/1), Sparte Quercus (12/1), Flight Of Fantasy (12/1), Bid Adieu (16/1), Fast Dancer (25/1), Dragons Voice (25/1), Man Of Harlech (25/1), Carry Me Home (25/1), Stamford Raffles (33/1)

BID ADIEU beat the subsequently progressive Clear Skies when taking an AW Dundalk maiden over the winter and, having run a respectable race on debut for this trainer over an inadequate mile recently, there should be plenty more to come from him. Pivoine ended last term in fine fettle for Sir Michael Stoute and should have a say again for new connections while the long-absent Adamant is respected for his previous handler. Zzoro promises to go well after a recent pipe-opener while Rake's Progress has the potential for a big run first time out.