15:05 Newmarket

Saturday 9 June 2018

All14:0014:3515:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Animal Health Trust Handicap

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 1m 24.45s

(7)

Rufus King⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 103| D

10/1

Won three races as a juvenile and went close to winning a valuable Lingfield contest on return when just caught late on. Has failed to build on that though and may need some relief from the handicapper before he's of interest.

Form: 61-2053

(2)

Yafta²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Dane O'Neill| T: R Hannon| OR: 100

7/2

Finished off his three-year-old career in fine form and has returned in similar fashion this time around, winning over 6f here on the Rowley course when last seen. 7lb higher but more progress likely up in trip.

Form: 2211-21

(6)

Stormbringer²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: M Harley| T: K A Ryan| OR: 98

5/1

A winner at Redcar on his second start and came on for his reappearance with a good third in an Ascot handicap last time out. More progress entirely possible and 3lb rise for his latest effort may not be enough to stop him.

Form: 317-33

(3)

Grand Koonta¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: David Probert| T: C G Cox| OR: 95

14/1

A winner at Windsor on his third start but has paid the price for finishing fifth in Group race at Newbury at the end of last year and would appear to be on a stiff mark. Well beaten on reappearance and others preferred.

Form: 42185-0

(11)

Soldier's Minute³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: S W Kelly| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 93| BF| D

33/1

Improved from debut to win at Musselburgh on second start and ran well in Listed class towards the end of the campaign. Well beaten odds-on favourite on return though and has a bit to prove from this mark off the back of that effort.

Form: 414-3

(5)

Red Roman²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: J F Egan| T: C Hills| OR: 90

25/1

A winner at the Goodwood Festival last year and ran well when fourth of 23 at Redcar towards the back end of the campaign in Listed class. Well beaten on return here last month and may want more cut in the ground than what's likely here.

Form: 15248-0

(8)

Cavatina¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Harry Bentley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 89| D

7/1

Gained a second career success when a winner at Leicester last month having shaped with plenty of promise at York the time before. Yard do well with their young fillies and more progress likely here from her revised mark.

Form: 431-441

(1)

Count Otto^h¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Joey Haynes| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 88

25/1

Has won three of his eight starts but all those wins have come on AW and yet to place in three turf runs. Well beaten at Goodwood last time and others preferred here.

Form: 3-11860

(4)

Georgian Manor²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 87| D

10/3

Shaped with plenty of promise at Lingfield on return when a runner-up and duly took a step forward for that when making all at Beverley last time out in maiden company. Mark potentially lenient for handicap debut here and likely to progress.

Form: 63-21

(9)

Fake News⁹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: M Dwyer| T: T D Barron| OR: 86| D

16/1

Scored at Carlisle (6f, good to soft) in August and at Wolverhampton (7f, AW) earlier in the month when fresh. 8lb rise for that looks tough on paper, but he looks to be improving and can't be ruled out.

Form: 019-1

(10)

Maksab²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: David Egan⁽³⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 81| BF| CD

10/1

Won two of his first four starts but progress has seemingly halted since. Well beaten at Doncaster last time and has a bit to prove off this sort of mark at present.

Form: 454-358

Forecasts

Georgian Manor (10/3), Yafta (7/2), Stormbringer (5/1), Cavatina (7/1), Maksab (10/1), Rufus King (10/1), Grand Koonta (14/1), Fake News (16/1), Count Otto (25/1), Red Roman (25/1), Soldier's Minute (33/1)

GEORGIAN MANOR looks the likely winner of this race after a comfortable success in maiden company last time out and he may have been let in lightly by the assessor for handicap debut. Cavatina is another last time out winner worthy of plenty of respect for a yard in good form while Stormbringer ran well at Ascot last time and will appreciate conditions here.