13:40 Newmarket

Saturday 14 July 2018

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2015:5516:30

bet365 Bunbury Cup Handicap

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 1m 24.36s

(7)

Love Dreams²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: J A Heffernan| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 106| CD

20/1

Not the most consistent sort but has won twice this season, producing a career best effort at Goodwood in May. Hasn't beaten many home in three subsequent starts though and while he's better than that, he made need some relief from the handicapper.

Form: 021700

(6)

Mubtasim^h⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: D O'Brien| T: W J Haggas| OR: 106| BF| D

8/1

Not disgraced when tried at Group level last year and ran well in defeat in a Listed race at Haydock last time. Likely he has a big race in him from this sort of handicap mark and gets his optimum trip and conditions here.

Form: 3370-32

(8)

Makzeem^t⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 103| CD

9/1

C&D winner whose latest success came on the Rowley Mile course here in September. Well below form in two starts in Listed class this campaign though, last on each occasion and has a bit to prove from this sort of handicap mark.

Form: 2614-67

(14)

Cardsharp¹⁴^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 105| C

20/1

Listed winner at Salisbury in impressive fashion last month. Efforts either side of that run have been disappointing though, including when well beaten in a Group 3 at Newcastle on latest start and he has a tough ask from this sort of handicap mark.

Form: 906106

(9)

Reckless Endeavour²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: D C Costello| T: J A Osborne| OR: 101| D

50/1

Inconsistent sort who has won just once in 10 starts for this yard. His return to turf last time out at Royal Ascot had some promise when back over 6f but he looks vulnerable back up at 7f here.

Form: 341520

(3)

Firmament²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: M Harley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 101

12/1

Losing run now stands at 17 and he's been very disappointing this campaign in his four starts. Still well above his last winning mark and probably better at 1m.

Form: 88-6090

(11)

Tupi¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 100| C| D

25/1

Failed to fire in Meydan this winter but ran with some credit at Windsor last time. Propensity to miss the break is off-putting and he's won just once since 2015.

Form: 7-44003

(10)

Muntadab²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: T Eaves| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 100| D

20/1

Running well in defeat in handicaps this year and it's no surprise that the handicapper is refusing to relent. Capable from this sort of mark but his best form has come with plenty of cut in the ground and he's probably vulnerable here.

Form: 10-6273

(13)

Gilgamesh²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: George Scott| OR: 100| D

5/1

Progressive as a three-year-old and produced a solid effort in a valuable handicap at Ascot in May before confirming the promise of that run by justifying favouritism at York. Ran well at Royal Ascot last time and should be thereabouts.

Form: 14-0717

(16)

Burnt Sugar²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: P Hanagan| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 99| D

7/1

Won twice last year but he's been below form this time around and all his best turf form has come with cut in the ground. May need relief from the handicapper but the yard are in form at least.

Form: 10-7080

(5)

Shady Mccoy²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: R Havlin| T: Ian Williams| OR: 97| D

25/1

Progressive towards the end of last year and shaped like a return to form may be imminent at York last time. Probably wants softer ground than what he will get here though and he's still 6lb above his highest winning handicap mark.

Form: 274-006

(4)

Mukalal²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Jim Crowley| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 97| D

6/1

Produced a career best effort in a Class 3 Handicap at Ascot towards the back end of last year. Well beaten on return from an absence on first starts since a wind operation last time out but entitled to need it and we're yet to see the best of him.

Form: 12441-0

(2)

Borderforce⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Nicola Currie⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 97| D

50/1

Useful when trained in France and won a decent handicap on soft ground at Longchamp in April. It's hard to imagine he would want this sort of ground but yard do well with these types and he's hard to put a line through.

Form: 031-610

(19)

Mountain Rescue²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Harry Bentley| T: C F Wall| OR: 96| CD

20/1

Won on the Rowley Course here in May and his prior win came over C&D. Not without each-way claims over his optimum trip on ground he favours.

Form: 172-610

(18)

Masham Star⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 90| D

12/1

Inconsistent sort, particularly on turf and while he won at Windsor two starts back, he looks poorly treated as a result and it's hard to imagine him mixing it at this level.

Form: 240414

(17)

Von Blucher^p⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: R Menzies| OR: 95| C| D

20/1

Course winner in 2016 for John Gosden and gained his first success since on return at Newcastle in January. Has been in a poor run of form since that effort and hard to fancy in his current mood.

Form: 0-17089

(1)

Ice Lord⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: George Wood| T: C F Wall| OR: 91

33/1

Gained a first win for this yard over 6f at Ascot last year on soft ground. Below form in a pair of efforts this year though and probably wants a return to ease in the ground and a shorter trip to be seen at his best.

Form: 7312-06

(15)

Spanish City²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 91| BF| D

7/1

Likable sort who is still progressing. Couldn't justify favouritism last time out but the winner from that race has won a Group 3 since. All his best effort have come on fast ground and yard are flying at present. Should be thereabouts.

Form: 6/4-1614

Non-Runners

(12)

Speculative Bid²¹⁰

Weight: 9-10| Age: 7

T: D R C Elsworth J: G Mosse

(20)

Mjjack⁷⁷

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: K R Burke J: Charles Bishop

Forecasts

Gilgamesh (5/1), Mukalal (6/1), Burnt Sugar (7/1), Spanish City (7/1), Mubtasim (8/1), Makzeem (9/1), Firmament (12/1), Masham Star (12/1), Mjjack (14/1), Speculative Bid (14/1), Cardsharp (20/1), Muntadab (20/1), Mountain Rescue (20/1), Von Blucher (20/1), Love Dreams (20/1), Shady Mccoy (25/1), Tupi (25/1), Ice Lord (33/1), Borderforce (50/1), Reckless Endeavour (50/1)

MUKALAL is an interesting runner here and he was entitled to need his return at Royal Ascot last time. Still lightly raced, he could prove to be the one to beat here if he's improved for wind surgery in the off-season. Spanish Steps is a consistent sort who represents a yard flying and he couldn't be ruled out from the bottom of the weights. Gilgamesh was far from disgraced at Royal Ascot last time and it's likely he's more than capable of winning races from this sort of mark.