15:40 Newmarket

Saturday 9 June 2018

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

John Sunley Memorial Handicap

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 2m 58.14s

(4)

Great Hall⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: P Cosgrave| T: M Quinn| OR: 103| D

33/1

Finished last year in good form and returned in similar mood this season. Handicapper has seemingly caught up with him judged on his last couple of efforts though and others preferred.

Form: 234157

(12)

Soldier In Action⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: J Mitchell| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 101| D

12/1

Becoming very well-handicapped on his form from last season but he's been disappointing in six starts in 2018 and hard to form after he was well beaten at Epsom last week.

Form: 448668

(6)

Quloob²⁹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Dane O'Neill| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 98| BF| C

11/2

Progressed from maiden company to record a hat-trick of handicaps last season and only just touched off in four-timer bid at Nottingham when last seen. Up 4lb for that and entitled to need this on his return though.

Form: 54/1112-

(9)

Byron Flyer^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: Ian Williams| OR: 98

6/1

Useful dual purpose performer who won on his return to the Flat on reappearance last year. A little unlucky not to get his head in front in a host of subsequent starts and ran well at Haydock when staying on for second last time. Not ruled out.

Form: 2227-52

(10)

Addicted To You¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Harry Bentley| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 95

9/2

In fine form towards the end of last season and returned with a facile Chelmsford success when making all last time out. A 10lb rise for that success certainly looks fair and ought to run well again here with more progress possible.

Form: 421P2-1

(7)

Amazing Red²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 93| C

8/1

A course winner here last year and while he's been inconsistent since, he ran well to win at Kempton last month. Disappointed over C&D last time when hampered and may be capable of better still with Dettori booked.

Form: 24-3615

(3)

Alqamar^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: B Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 92| BF

11/1

Just one win from 10 starts to date and largely struggling off this sort of mark having gone up in the weights after a respectable run in a Group 2. May not have seen the best of him yet and his better efforts have come here so not ruled out.

Form: 9258-33

(11)

Fire Jet²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: T P Queally| T: J Mackie| OR: 92| CD

16/1

Inconsistent sort but she's useful when in the mood as seen over this trip here on the Rowley course last time. No guarantee to back that effort up but she won over C&D last year and capable of going well here.

Form: 1618-52

(5)

Golden Wolf⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 89

7/1

Won a maiden at Lingfield and has been running well in defeat subsequently. Versatile with regards to conditions and while 2lb higher here, that's fair and he runs well on undulating tracks.

Form: 2132-22

(13)

Golden Birthday^t⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Fran Berry| T: H Fry| OR: 89

16/1

Looked progressive in both hurdle races and Flat races last year, winning six of his last seven races of 2017 across both codes. Below form in two starts this year and handicapper refusing to relent so perhaps best watched until he show more.

Form: 111-55

(2)

Mark Hopkins¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: David Egan⁽³⁾| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 88| BF| C| D

11/1

Gained a first success since his maiden win here over 1m4f when winning at Salisbury last year. Hard to pass when he gets an easy lead and ran well back at the scene of his last win last time. On a workable mark and has claims if he settles better.

Form: 15837-2

(8)

Sunblazer^t⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-8| J: Josephine Gordon| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 87| D

33/1

Won the Rowley course over 2m in November and held his form well on AW subsequently. Has won from higher marks and should get the decent pace to aim at he needs, as he likes to be delivered late. Not ruled out in ground that will suit.

Form: 3131-36

(1)

Grapevine⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-1| J: Hayley Turner| T: C Hills| OR: 80

33/1

Largely out of form over hurdles but managed to land a jumpers' bumper at Kempton in March. Flat mark looks stiff though and he would probably want softer ground than what he will get here.

Form: 045576-

Forecasts

Addicted To You (9/2), Quloob (11/2), Byron Flyer (6/1), Golden Wolf (7/1), Amazing Red (8/1), Alqamar (11/1), Mark Hopkins (11/1), Soldier In Action (12/1), Fire Jet (16/1), Golden Birthday (16/1), Grapevine (33/1), Great Hall (33/1), Sunblazer (33/1)

It might be worth siding with MARK HOPKINS here who can be a dangerous horse to gift a lead to and he's the only confirmed front runner in here. Fire Jet has some course and distance form and looks capable of going well while Addicted To You was very impressive last time out when a ten length winner of a handicap; not one to ruled out if reproducing a similar effort here.