15:00 Newmarket

Friday 13 July 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

bet365 Handicap

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 2m 4.65s

(5)

Zaaki²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 104

4/1

A winner on debut for this yard and took his form to a new level with a third in a Group 3 at Royal Ascot. May have finished closer if he had broken on terms that day and handicapper has leniently only put him up 1lb. Respected back down in class.

Form: 545-133

(6)

Wissahickon¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 101| D

2/1

A winner of three of his four starts and particularly impressive last time out when winning a valuable handicap at York with the front two pulling 6L clear of the remainder. A 7lb rise could underestimate him here and yard are flying at present.

Form: 12-11

(3)

Chief Ironside¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: J P Spencer| T: W Jarvis| OR: 96| CD

6/1

Won his maiden at Chester in May and ran well in a valuable handicap at Newbury in follow-up bid. Improved to win over C&D last time out and a 7lb rise looks manageable. Slightly more exposed than some though.

Form: 8-4131

(7)

Beringer¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: M Harley| T: A King| OR: 95| D

6/1

Only narrowly denied in his hat-trick bid at York last time when a ¾L runner-up to re-opposing Wissahickon. They pulled clear of the field that day and he's 2lb better off with that rival but he's more exposed and may struggle to reverse the form.

Form: 6-72112

(2)

Desert Wind²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: S Donohoe| T: E F Vaughan| OR: 93| D

12/1

Won three races on AW this winter and finished a good fourth in a particularly competitive Royal Ascot handicap last time out. Only up 1lb for that and likely to be more to come with the step back up in trip sure to suit.

Form: 3-11124

(8)

Poet's Prince¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 93| D

12/1

Ran well in a couple of competitive handicaps returned to turf this year but no match for the re-opposing Wissahickon and Beringer at York last time out. May have done too much too soon that day but he needs to improve regardless.

Form: 121246

(4)

Communique¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 92| D

8/1

Got the better of re-opposing stablemate Poet's Prince in a valuable handicap at Newbury but well beaten at Royal Ascot and like his stablemate, proved no match for a couple of these at York last time. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 2-32105

(9)

Dukhan^p²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Harry Bentley| T: H Palmer| OR: 91

16/1

Just one win from seven starts and yet to win in four course attempts (two Rowley Course). Well beaten at Royal Ascot last time and has a bit to prove at present.

Form: 41-2360

(1)

The Night Porter¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: J F Egan| T: M R Channon| OR: 86| D

25/1

Arrives here bidding for a hat-trick after wins at Beverley and Lingfield but his mark looks stiff on first start in handicap company and likely to prove vulnerable here.

Form: 3411

Forecasts

Wissahickon (2/1), Zaaki (4/1), Beringer (6/1), Chief Ironside (6/1), Communique (8/1), Desert Wind (12/1), Poet's Prince (12/1), Dukhan (16/1), The Night Porter (25/1)

Mark Johnston has a fine record in this race and runs both Poet's Prince and Communique here but they both struggled up against WISSAHICKON at York last time. The son of Tapit is only up 7lb for that impressive effort and he's taken to make it four wins from five career starts with more improvement likely. Beringer is another to come out of that race with credit and shouldn't be far away but Zaaki could be the main danger given the handicappers leniency following a fine effort at pattern level.