15:05 Newbury

Friday 18 May 2018

All13:3014:0014:3515:0515:4016:1516:4517:20

Starlight Wishes Handicap

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 2m 34.03s

(11)

Epitaph^v⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: M Appleby| OR: 72| D

20/1

Consistent sort who has only managed to win once in 29 starts, but that was over this trip on Fibresand at Southwell in January. Runner up off a 5lb lower mark on his last start on turf in October 2017.

Form: 533224

(4)

Rubensian²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: James Doyle| T: D M Simcock| OR: 71| D

8/1

A dual 1m4f AW winner, but remains a maiden on turf (0 from 7). Had wind surgery over the winter months and twice placed since on Tapeta at Wolverhampton over an inadequate extended 1m1f trip.

Form: 4567-33

(8)

Rainbow Rising¹⁹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: R Kingscote| T: D Menuisier| OR: 70

12/1

Without a win after seven career starts, but not fully exposed just yet. Off the track since November, but was beaten just a neck off a similar mark over this trip at Kempton in August.

Form: 722334-

(9)

Ravenous¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Sophie Ralston⁽⁷⁾| T: L A Dace| OR: 70| D

10/1

The 1m6f Colwick Cup at Nottingham in August is most likely his seasonal objective (winner in 2016, third in 2017), but he can be expected to be fitter for a recent spin at Goodwood and sits on a fair mark.

Form: 7-02566

(1)

Orin Swift²¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Rob Hornby| T: J G Portman| OR: 70

9/1

Boasts various bits and pieces of placed three-year-old form, and rounded off the previous campaign beaten 1L by Zeelander at Windsor in October (1m3f+ good). Up 2lb, but should have more too offer.

Form: 043362-

(12)

Sky Marshal⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: P Cosgrave| T: E Walker| OR: 69| BF| D

6/1

Thrived on the AW since being upped beyond 1m, winning three on the bounce before finishing a close up second to Star Ascending at Lingfield latest (1m4f). Up 2lb and bidding to continue that rapid progress on turf.

Form: 991-112

(7)

Lady Valdean^p²^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Joshua Bryan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Santos| OR: 69| D

9/2

Evidently well suited by a sound surface, but has a penalty to carry for Wednesday's all the way success at Bath (1m2f firm). Riders 5lb claim helpful, but this is a tougher task.

Form: 926-961

(13)

Sufi¹⁰⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: P J Dobbs| T: K O Cunningham-Brown| OR: 69

12/1

Has shown that ability does lie within previously, but remains without a victory after 11 previous attempts (0 from 5 on turf). Beaten 1½L by Thaqaffa on his last start at Kempton in February (1m3f).

Form: 8747-63

(10)

Omotesando¹⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 68| D

33/1

Won on turf over a similar trip at Haydock in August (gd/sft) and also scored over 2m on the AW on his penultimate start. Off since late November, so fitness to prove from a challenging mark.

Form: 629519-

(3)

My Brother Mike¹⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: M Harley| T: K Frost| OR: 66

14/1

Not at his sharpest since going down by a nose on Tapeta at Newcastle in October (1m2f), but lightly raced on turf (0 from 2) and looks worthy of another try at this longer trip.

Form: 142064-

(6)

Methag¹³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: A M Hales| OR: 65| D

25/1

Beaten just 1¼L by Multigifted in this contest in 2017 (soft) from a 7lb higher mark, but this mare has shown precious little to enthuse over since and appears to be regressive.

Form: 52706-0

(5)

Kerrera^t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: A Kirby| T: P R Webber| OR: 65| D

7/1

Stayed on stoutly to score over this trip at Newmarket in August (good), so theoretically should be competitive off just a 5lb higher mark. Likely to improve for her recent comeback sixth at Wolverhampton.

Form: 7/5138-6

(2)

Famous Dynasty⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Josephine Gordon| T: M Blanshard| OR: 59| D

12/1

A 15-race turf maiden, but in respectable enough form on the AW of late, winning from a 4lb lower mark at Kempton in early March (1m4f). Needs every yard of this 1m4f trip.

Form: 341263

Forecasts

Lady Valdean (9/2), Sky Marshal (6/1), Kerrera (7/1), Rubensian (8/1), Orin Swift (9/1), Ravenous (10/1), Rainbow Rising (12/1), Famous Dynasty (12/1), Sufi (12/1), My Brother Mike (14/1), Epitaph (20/1), Methag (25/1), Omotesando (33/1)

Not a particularly appealing contest by Newbury standards and a race which would be equally well placed on the AW at Wolverhampton or Lingfield. However, we seek the winner with improvement likely from the wind operated upon Rubensian now upped to a more suitable trip, and the reappearing four-year-old Orin Swift who is far from fully exposed for the Jonathan Portman stable, but in a wide open event, we'll side with the stout stayer KERRERA. She was a winner over this trip at Newmarket in August and should be competitive off just a 5lb higher mark at a track which should suit following a solid prep-run at Wolverhampton latest.