20:35 Newmarket

Thursday 17 May 2018

All17:1017:4518:2018:5519:3020:0520:35

Heath Court Hotel Dining Club Handicap

Off time: 20:39 | Winning time: 1m 37.82s

(1)

Ostilio^t²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: S Crisford| OR: 84

5/4

Frustrating for followers after four successive seconds, including two last month at Lingfield (1m, AW) and Yarmouth (1m, good to firm). However, his level of form suggests that he can again have a major say from this initial handicap mark.

Form: 22-22

(6)

Rogue²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 83

10/1

Won a novices' event (6f, good to firm) at Salisbury last August and followed up on his handicap debut (7f, good) at Newbury. Drops 1lb here after a couple of defeats and needs to improve a bit for his reappearance.

Form: 44114-5

(3)

Exhort²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82| D

14/1

Justified odds-on favouritism on her second start at Haydock in August (7f, good to soft) and again under a penalty at Thirsk (1m, good to firm) next time. Put in a good reappearance effort at Beverley last month and has claims from same mark.

Form: 2116-4

(4)

Mushtaq¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 82| BF

7/2

Score at Chelmsford (6f, AW) on his second start in December. Not quite as good as that when beaten favourite at Nottingham (1m½f, soft) last time. Good ground may help and if he can bounce back he enters calculations.

Form: 41-3

(2)

Christopher Wood²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Cameron Noble⁽⁵⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 82| BF

5/1

Won a Salisbury maiden on debut (7f, good to soft) in June for Ralph Beckett and was beaten by one of that's trainer's string on his first start for this one over C&D (good) last month. Bit to prove, however, after his latest effort.

Form: 142-25

(7)

Outside Inside⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 80

12/1

7f Gowran maiden winner (yielding) in July, on her third start. Comfortably held on debut for this stable at Newcastle (7f, AW) in March. Drops 1lb here and entitled to come for the run. Interesting now stepped up to this trip.

Form: 98127-6

(8)

Image²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rossa Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: P J McBride| OR: 80| D

20/1

Has scored at both Chelmsford (7f) and Newcastle (1m) on the All Weather this spring, the latter from 5lb lower. Another solid effort back at the former track last time and 1lb drop would put her in the picture if she can transfer that form to turf.

Form: 303-113

Non-Runners

(5)

Amplification⁷⁰

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: E A L Dunlop J: James Doyle

Forecasts

Ostilio (5/4), Mushtaq (7/2), Christopher Wood (5/1), Amplification (8/1), Rogue (10/1), Outside Inside (12/1), Exhort (14/1), Image (20/1)

Ostilio again looks capable of making an impact from his initial handicap mark but that string of seconds has us looking elsewhere for the winner, which can hopefully come in the form of OUTSIDE INSIDE. Mark Johnston's filly looks capable of some improvement on her debut for the trainer now dropped 1lb and stepped up in trip, so she is suggested. Exhort has to be taken very seriously after her reappearance run and Mushtaq is not ruled out.