16:55 Newmarket

Saturday 11 August 2018

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Royal British Legion Handicap

Off time: 16:56 | Winning time: 1m 41.71s

(1)

Dream Today⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 98| BF

5/1

Finished second in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes as a juvenile but was well beaten in the Heron Stakes at Sandown on reappearance, and again disappointed on AW debut at Newcastle last month. Bit to prove, but this is an easier task.

Form: 526-928

(8)

Petrus^b¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: L Dettori| T: B J Meehan| OR: 95

5/4

Gradually getting back to his best of late, and built on previous promise when third of 15 behind Crack On Crack On at Ascot (1m) last time. This looks a little easier, and he will go well if in the same form.

Form: 4-68043

(4)

Porth Swtan⁹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: C Hills| OR: 83

11/2

Plenty of placed form last year, and got off the mark on return here in April (7f, good to soft); ran moderately in a handicap at Chester in May, however, and off since.

Form: 0222-18

(3)

Bella Ragazza⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: George Wood| T: H Morrison| OR: 83

5/1

Shaped nicely at Newbury over 7f (good to soft) on her debut, and built on that when scoring at Goodwood in May. Disappointed in listed race at Carlisle last time, but ought to relish this trip, and not dismissed.

Form: 517

(7)

Protected Guest¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: G G Margarson| OR: 81| D

9/2

Won over 1m at Yarmouth on his return, but better form in defeat since, notably when 2L sixth of 15 to Crack On Crack On in valuable handicap at Ascot last time. Not dismissed out of hand.

Form: 702-136

Non-Runners

(6)

Finniston Farm⁵¹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 3

T: Tom Dascombe J: S W Kelly

(5)

Three Weeks¹⁵⁷

Weight: 8-12| Age: 3

T: W J Haggas J: Andrea Atzeni

(2)

Morning Has Broken¹⁸⁹

Weight: 8-7| Age: 3

T: D R C Elsworth J: William Cox

Forecasts

Petrus (5/4), Protected Guest (9/2), Bella Ragazza (5/1), Dream Today (5/1), Three Weeks (5/1), Porth Swtan (11/2), Morning Has Broken (6/1), Finniston Farm (10/1)

A few of these have been off the track for a while, which complicates matters, but that's not an issue for PETRUS, who ran a fine race to be third to Crack On Crack On at Ascot last time, and seems to be coming to the boil. Dream Today has been highly tried this season, but could bounce back dropped in class, while Three Weeks has been gelded since finishing behind Gronkowski at Kempton in March, and that form better in retrospect.