13:50 Newmarket

Sunday 6 May 2018

All13:5014:2014:5515:3516:1016:4517:20

Qatar Racing Handicap

Off time: 13:52 | Winning time: 2m 30.5s

(14)

Wolf Country⁷³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 100| D

4/1

Improved from maiden company to win a Listed race last year but came up a little short in Group class subsequently. Ran okay in Meydan handicap last time and first string on jockey bookings so can't be ruled out for last year's winning yard.

Form: 1/1550-4

(4)

Eddystone Rock³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: R Havlin| T: J R Best| OR: 100

25/1

Won a York handicap last year and finished the season in good style when third of 23 at Doncaster in November. Should come on for his recent reappearance at Kempton and not dismissed.

Form: 003-900

(1)

Across The Stars⁴²

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

25/1

Has plenty of ability but he's quirky and struggles to put everything together. Losing run stretches back to 2016 and others arrive in better form.

Form: 277-562

(13)

Duke Of Bronte²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: B R Millman| OR: 99| D

7/1

In fine form throughout last season and returned with a game effort at Chelmsford last time when winning a nine-runner handicap. May come on for that run and is probably even better on turf so no reason he shouldn't run well here.

Form: 14132-1

(6)

Celestial Spheres^p⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 97| BF| C| D

12/1

Course winner at the end of last season and running well on AW over the winter. Drying ground in his favour but handicap mark starting to look a bit stiff now and Buick prefers Wolf Country. Yard won this last year.

Form: 5101-12

(15)

Grey Britain⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: G Mosse| T: J Ryan| OR: 97| C

50/1

Struggled in three starts since being gelded last autumn including at Doncaster last month. Was the winner of a Listed race over 1m2f here last year so can't be ruled out but patchy profile is off-putting.

Form: 054-900

(11)

Uae Prince²⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 97| BF| D

8/1

Won on his return to action last year and ran some fine races in defeat including a good fourth in a valuable handicap at York in July. Still seemingly on a workable mark and should run well if he's ready to run after an absence.

Form: 6/15440-

(5)

Sofia's Rock⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 96| D

22/1

Inconsistent performer who has been below par on two runs this year. Very best form has come on faster ground than what's likely here.

Form: 3020-95

(7)

Al Hamdany³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁵⁾| T: M Botti| OR: 96| D

66/1

Both his wins have come at Kempton but he has run well on turf before, most notably when placed in Listed company behind a useful Godolphin runner. Holding his form well without getting his head in form lately and can't be ruled out.

Form: 22-4434

(8)

Reshoun¹⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Jim Crowley| T: Ian Williams| OR: 94| D

12/1

Lost his maiden tag at Doncaster last time out and while he's up 8lb in the weights for that effort, there's no doubting he deserves that rise. Needs a strong pace to aim and will be doing all his best work in the finish.

Form: 267231-

(2)

The Grand Visir²⁰⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: W J Haggas| OR: 91| BF| D

7/1

A winner over this trip on the July course last year but a little inconsistent either side of that run. Acts in most ground and dangerous to gift an easy lead to, particularly with this jockey on board.

Form: 164158-

(3)

Alqamar^p¹⁷⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: B Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 90| BF| D

20/1

Won a York handicap by 5L on handicap debut but struggling off his revised mark since and may need some relief from the handicapper. Down the order on jockey bookings for the yard that won this last year.

Form: 2/19258-

(12)

Adamant¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 90| BF

7/2

Improved from his debut to make all at Windsor in 2016 but only seen once last year. Ran a fine race in defeat on return last time out and there's a good chance he will come on for that run. Interesting runner.

Form: 41/1-2

(9)

Oasis Fantasy²¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: M Harley| T: D M Simcock| OR: 88| CD

25/1

Won this in 2016 but only has three wins from 37 starts and not won a race since. Well beaten last on most recent effort at Epsom and entitled to need this run on his return.

Form: 046396-

(10)

Maori Bob²³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Hayley Turner| T: M L W Bell| OR: 85| D

25/1

Arrives here in his bid for a four-timer but this is a much stronger race than what he has been contesting and needs more improvement from another 7lb higher in the weights.

Form: 224111-

Forecasts

Adamant (7/2), Wolf Country (4/1), Duke Of Bronte (7/1), The Grand Visir (7/1), Uae Prince (8/1), Celestial Spheres (12/1), Reshoun (12/1), Alqamar (20/1), Sofia's Rock (22/1), Eddystone Rock (25/1), Across The Stars (25/1), Maori Bob (25/1), Oasis Fantasy (25/1), Grey Britain (50/1), Al Hamdany (66/1)

UAE PRINCE won on his seasonal return last year and he still looks on a workable mark after some fine efforts at the back end of last year. Adament is a big danger if he improves for his recent run at Newbury while Duke Of Bronte is a consistent sort who returned in fine form at Chelmsford recently.