14:25 Newbury

Saturday 21 July 2018

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

JLT Cup (Handicap)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 3m 32.57s

(3)

Nakeeta^h,t1²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 106

25/1

Last year's Ebor winner is being prepared for another crack at the Melbourne Cup in which he was a creditable fifth. Needs to improve on what he has shown this year.

Form: 2415-00

(9)

Hochfeld⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 103

10/1

Winner of four races and third in Listed company last autumn. Got warm ahead of last week's reappearance and would be expected to come on for that, but still needs to prove he is worthy of this career high mark.

Form: 61935-4

(6)

Amazing Red²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: L Dettori| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 102| D

10/1

Takes a keen hold and requires plenty of cover which leaves him a hostage to fortune. Failed to exploit a good mark in the Northumberland Plate and 4lb higher here.

Form: 361510

(13)

Stars Over The Sea²⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: A Kirby| T: Ian Williams| OR: 101| C| D

20/1

Weighted to his best and off the track since October. Debuts for new yard and probably best watched on this occasion.

Form: 54/4120-

(18)

Arch Villain²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: P J Dobbs| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 100| D

40/1

Fourth in last year's Ebor but has failed to run close to that standard since. Tailed off on return and hard to fancy as a result.

Form: 001/48-0

(7)

Sir Chauvelin⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: George Downing| T: J S Goldie| OR: 98| D

14/1

Runner-up in the Duke Of Edinburgh and third in the Northumberland Plate. Looks to have a big payday in him and this is a more suitable test than last week.

Form: 1-84230

(8)

Quloob^p1⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 98

8/1

Improved for stepping up in trip last year and forged a good partnership with today's rider. Entitled to improve on last month's reappearance and gets a big pull with Amazing Red. Cheekpieces tried for the first time.

Form: 4/1112-5

(17)

Newlands^p,t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 97

66/1

Singapore import showed signs of temperament ahead of his stable debut at Royal Ascot. Finished well adrift that day and best watched until showing more.

Form: 700460

(1)

Stratum^h1³²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: R Winston| T: W P Mullins| OR: 94| D

11/4

Has had little racing over the past 18 months but showed in the Ascot Stakes that his trainer should be able to land a good prize with him. That effort needs to be upgraded given the wide passage he endured and a hood is fitted now.

Form: 23122/3

(11)

Island Brave²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: L Morris| T: H Main| OR: 93

25/1

Improved handicapper who goes well for today's booked rider. Excellent fifth in the Northumberland Plate but yet to make the frame on turf and needs to dispel that as a myth.

Form: 112155

(10)

Cleonte^p³²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Joshua Bryan⁽³⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 92

25/1

Listed winner at Deauville for Andre Fabre but yet to get off the mark for this yard. Would probably want some rain to fall to be of interest and on a good handicap mark if that is the case.

Form: 046-249

(16)

Kloud Gate³²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Harry Bentley| T: G & J Moore| OR: 91

33/1

Five-time winner failed to adapt to hurdling but showed in the Ascot Stakes that connections can have some fun with him on the level. May need to come down a bit further in the weights and another for whom rain would be beneficial.

Form: 38342-7

(5)

Percy's Word¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: P Hanagan| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 91| D

9/1

Lightly raced Sir Percy gelding has won two of his five starts including one over today's trip. Excellent run on return from nine months off and capable of finding the improvement needed under a rider with a 5-27 record for the yard.

Form: 1/316-2

(2)

Coeur de Lion^p³²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: M Harley| T: A King| OR: 91| D

17/2

Consistent stayer from a stable having a good week. Runner-up in the Chester Plate and claims would look stronger in the event of rain.

Form: 23-1226

(12)

Golden Wolf¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 90

25/1

Has been unlucky to bump into some progressive rivals this season and his mark has climbed as a result. Tries a new trip but others make more appeal from a handicapping view.

Form: 32-2229

(4)

Almoghared³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 105

11/2

The form of his Chepstow victory amounts to little and hard to say his Queen's Vase fourth warrants his current rating. In good hands but needs to improve considerably.

Form: 214

Non-Runners

(14)

Saunter²⁹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 5

T: Ian Williams J: P Makin

(15)

Buzz¹⁷

Weight: 8-11| Age: 4

T: H Morrison J: L P Keniry

Forecasts

Stratum (11/4), Almoghared (11/2), Quloob (8/1), Coeur de Lion (17/2), Percy's Word (9/1), Hochfeld (10/1), Amazing Red (10/1), Sir Chauvelin (14/1), Buzz (14/1), Stars Over The Sea (20/1), Saunter (20/1), Golden Wolf (25/1), Nakeeta (25/1), Cleonte (25/1), Island Brave (25/1), Kloud Gate (33/1), Arch Villain (40/1), Newlands (66/1)

Buzz, Percy's Word and Quloob appeal as potential improvers for top yards, whilst Almoghared needs to step up considerably but has the size and scope to do so. Sir Chauvelin is at home in these competitive events and could repay each-way support, whilst Coeur de Lion and Cleonte could do with some rain. STRATUM caught the eye at Royal Ascot when staying on well after being forced to challenge wide and leaving the impression it would not take Willie Mullins long to place him to advantage.