16:00 Newmarket

Saturday 21 July 2018

All14:1514:4515:2516:0016:3517:1017:40

smarkets.com Handicap

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 1m 35.54s

(6)

C Note^t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: R Havlin| T: H Main| OR: 95

33/1

Rated 101 and running in Listed company here in 2016, but only run five times since on the AW after joining this trainer. Winner at Wolverhampton (1m1½f) in March, poor both subsequent starts and opposable back on turf.

Form: 6/64-170

(4)

Vintager³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Fran Berry| T: D Menuisier| OR: 102| C

2/1

Mastercraftsman colt has not won since debut but has run well in three starts this term including in Listed/Group company. Fourth in the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot latest over 1m2f, can make presence felt here back down in trip.

Form: 155-234

(2)

Poet's Society⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Oliver Stammers⁽⁷⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 93| C| D

12/1

Having a busy 2018 so far, set to make 20th start here. Winner of three from previous six starts (7f/1m) including career-best at Leicester this month. Faded from the front ay Ayr five days ago, may have hit ceiling for now.

Form: 117417

(7)

Ripp Orf⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Hayley Turner| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 92| CD

3/1

Running well this year, finishing outside of the first two only once in nine starts on AW/turf (had excuses at Epsom). Good as ever when scoring over C&D eight days ago and entitled to be in the frame again from 3lb higher mark.

Form: 221291

(5)

Masham Star⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 92| D

8/1

Arguably better on the AW but did win at Windsor late last month (1m, good to firm). Well held both starts since and likely to remain vulnerable in this field.

Form: 404149

(3)

Silver Quartz³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P Cosgrave| T: H Palmer| OR: 98| D

7/1

No mistake in Windsor novice (1m, good to firm) in May on seasonal bow/second start. Creditable run in Listed 1m event at Sandown next time and may have found 1m2f beyond him in Royal Ascot Group 3 latest. Ground to find with Vintager, may improve.

Form: 2-170

(8)

Penwortham²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 89| D

25/1

Bit of a Chester specialist, with three of five career wins coming on the Roodee, including last time out. Rated 5lb higher here and doesn't appeal as the most likely winner.

Form: 75-0661

(9)

Pactolus⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Louis Steward| T: S C Williams| OR: 82| D

20/1

All nine career wins have come on artificial surfaces, latest in November at Wolverhampton (1m1½f, rated 96). Opposable back on turf, despite lower mark.

Form: 224706

(1)

Keeper's Choice³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: David Egan| T: D J Coakley| OR: 73| D

11/2

Lightly-raced filly going the right way in two starts this season, beaten on the nod in reappearance at Chepstow and scored since at Newbury (both over this trip on good to firm). This is tougher again, but further improvement is entirely possible.

Form: 2160-21

Forecasts

Vintager (2/1), Ripp Orf (3/1), Keeper's Choice (11/2), Silver Quartz (7/1), Masham Star (8/1), Poet's Society (12/1), Pactolus (20/1), Penwortham (25/1), C Note (33/1)

The consistent Ripp Orf could prove tough to crack on the back of last week's C&D success. Anything that defeats David Elsworth's charge will have earned it but VINTAGER might prove equal to the job. The Mastercraftsman colt ran well on reappearance in a Sandown handicap over this trip in April and has twice in gone well in pattern races since, including in the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot over a longer trip. He could have more to say. Keeper's Choice is a lightly-raced filly going the right way and could easily have further improvement in her while handicap debutant Silver Quartz is also worth paying attention to having shaped well in decent company.