21:05 Newbury

Thursday 12 July 2018

All17:5018:2518:5519:3020:0020:3521:05

Donnington Grove Veterinary Group Handicap (Str)

Off time: 21:07 | Winning time: 1m 26.00s

(5)

Harry Beau^t,v⁹^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Rossa Ryan⁽³⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 75| D

3/1

Usually a front runner he blew the start when well drawn at Chester but recovered to win in his usual style next time out at Chepstow eased in grade. Now 2lb well-in under his penalty after his 7L romp he could get another easy lead here.

Form: 101241

(2)

Nick Vedder^b¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Donagh O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: M Wigham| OR: 71

5/2

Shaped well on his last two starts and really ought to have won over C&D last time out (rider slow to get him out of a pocket) having travelled well and only beaten a neck in the end. One to keep onside here off just a 1lb higher mark.

Form: 3-22922

(1)

Island Sound¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Cameron Noble⁽⁵⁾| T: H Main| OR: 76| D

13/2

May well be vulnerable here off a 6lb higher mark than when winning on the AW (Newcastle) last time out over this trip. That was a career-best off what was a career-low mark (70) and he faces some improving types in this.

Form: 46-9581

(6)

Nicklaus⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 74

5/2

Ran over 1m here last time and once again didn't really get the run of the race and forced to make his challenge widest of all (possibly on the worst ground). Has shown that he can handle this trip and very much one to be interested in off this mark.

Form: 651-754

(7)

He's One Of R Own^h1²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Nicola Currie⁽³⁾| T: J Tuite| OR: 68

25/1

Hood goes on for the first time having now had a couple of tries in handicaps faring much better on the second occasion. A repeat of that run would still leave him with plenty to find though and this will be just his second turf start.

Form: 49306

(3)

Vincenzo Coccotti^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Joshua Bryan⁽⁵⁾| T: K O Cunningham-Brown| OR: 58| D

13/2

Spent most of the early part of the year sliding down the handicap but has arrested that slump of late with two runner-up slots sandwiching a win at Bath over 6f. The return to form has taken place in lower grade though (meets improvers here).

Form: 040212

Non-Runners

(4)

Skydiving¹⁴

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: Eve Johnson Houghton J: Charles Bishop

Forecasts

Nicklaus (5/2), Nick Vedder (5/2), Harry Beau (3/1), Skydiving (6/1), Vincenzo Coccotti (13/2), Island Sound (13/2), He's One Of R Own (25/1)

This should be run at a good pace with the penalised Chepstow scorer Harry Beau playing the role of the hare and even with that 6lb penalty he could be dangerous if the field let him get away from them. Doing the chasing will be two sorts who are both improving in Nick Vedder and NICKLAUS with the latter marginally preferred after his run here last time out when things (once again didn’t work out for him. The former of that duo also looked unlucky last time out and looks a major danger with a clear passage this time. Skydiving will come on for his last run and is worth noting for a handicap in the future.