15:00 Newbury

Saturday 19 May 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:25

Al Zubarah London Gold Cup Handicap

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 2m 5.43s

(4)

Connect²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 101

25/1

A Pontefract Listed winner last year and shaped like he needed the run on return here last time out. Useful when he gets his own way out front but not the easiest track to make the running on the round course and faces competiton for the lead here.

Form: 4161-7

(5)

Masaarr¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 96

11/4

Justified favouritism on his return to turf at Doncaster last time and shaped like he would appreciate the step up in trip here. Unexposed and likely to be more to come for last year's winning connections of this race.

Form: 31-31

(2)

Dukhan^p1¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: H Palmer| OR: 94| BF

8/1

Consistent sort, off the mark at Chelmsford last year and placed twice at Newmarket this campaign. May have finished closer last time when rider dropped his whip and not out of this if the first-time cheekpieces eke out a little improvement.

Form: 241-23

(10)

Loyal Promise²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M Meade| OR: 90

16/1

Won at Wolverhampton on second start and ran to a similar level when placed at Windsor last time out. Opening handicap mark demands improvement here though.

Form: 213

(11)

Poet's Prince⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 90| D

9/1

Has won three times on AW already since March but needs to prove he's as effective on turf and a 5lb rise might find him out here in a deeper race where he's far from guaranteed to get an easy lead.

Form: 5-12121

(1)

Chief Ironside¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: K Shoemark| T: W Jarvis| OR: 88| D

7/1

Improved from debut on return to finish fourth of 15 here in April and progressed again at Chester last time when an easy winner in maiden company. Handicapper has not missed him here but that looked a decent race and he may improve again.

Form: 8-41

(9)

He's Amazing¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Tom Marquand| T: C G Cox| OR: 88| D

9/1

Placed on each of his first three starts, all coming at this course over shorter. Improved when stepped up in trip at Newmarket last time (Dukhan third) and should make his presence felt again from just 6lb higher for a yard in form.

Form: 32-21

(6)

Mekong²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Harry Bentley| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 85| D

11/1

Improved on return to win at Leicester in heavy ground but plenty more on his plate here on handicap debut and openeing mark demands improvement.

Form: 64-1

(8)

Glencadam Master²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: N Mackay| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 85| BF

22/1

Got his head in front at the third attempt last year, winning at Kempton over 1m. Very disappointing favourite on return at Sandown though and has questions to answer after that effort. May improve for better ground.

Form: 321-4

(3)

Communique²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 84

7/1

Has run well on each of his four starts without getting his head in front. Placed when last seen at Sandown on handicap debut and while no match for the winner that day, it looked a strong race and he may be capable of better still.

Form: 22-32

(7)

Master Of Wine²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Hayley Turner| T: A M Balding| OR: 82

10/1

Improved on his return when winning at Epsom in comfortable fashion. Handicapper has seemingly given him a real chance off his opening mark and more progress likely.

Form: 26-1

Forecasts

Masaarr (11/4), Communique (7/1), Chief Ironside (7/1), Dukhan (8/1), Poet's Prince (9/1), He's Amazing (9/1), Master Of Wine (10/1), Mekong (11/1), Loyal Promise (16/1), Glencadam Master (22/1), Connect (25/1)

MASAARR gives the impression he will appreciate a greater stamina test and he gets the tentative vote in a wide open renewal of the race these connections won last year. Master Of Wine may have been let in lightly by the handicapper after a smart effort at Epsom last time while He's Amazing is a consistent sort with course form who should run well.