14:25 Newbury

Friday 17 August 2018

All13:2013:5014:2514:5515:3016:0016:3517:10

Christopher Smith Associates Handicap (Str)

Off time: 14:28 | Winning time: 1m 40.76s

(2)

Enigmatic⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Joshua Bryan⁽³⁾| T: A Bailey| OR: 79| BF| D

7/1

Impressive Yarmouth winner on debut for this yard and ran to similar level in two runs since with a third at the same course and fourth latest at Brighton both carrying an extra 7lb. More needed off same mark but in good form.

Form: 8-53134

(6)

Hombre Casado²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: G Mosse| T: E Walker| OR: 82| D

4/1

Raised 8lb for wins at Nottingham and Yarmouth in the spring before finishing fifth at Haydock and third at Sandown latest when upped to 1m2f. Still open to improvement so not ruled out for a stable bang in form.

Form: 461153

(5)

Regimented¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: R L Moore| T: R Hannon| OR: 81| D

9/1

Almost a year since he last won and is none from eight in handicaps. Went close off significantly higher marks as a two-year-old so handicap is appealing but form this season very average. Top jockey takes over but 0-3 on this horse.

Form: 2-57074

(4)

Blistering Bob¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: R A Teal| OR: 80| D

8/1

Stepped into first time handicap last time and absolutely bolted up by 7L at Windsor over 1m. Handicapper hits him hard with an 11lb rise but hard not to be excited by that run and remains one to keep on side.

Form: 5641

(3)

Exec Chef¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: P Cosgrave| T: J R Boyle| OR: 80| D

14/1

Ran well in all four runs on the AW including when winning a maiden at Lingfield latest on stable debut. Less than impressive however in lone turf start to date where beaten 18L so return to this surface leaves doubts.

Form: 32-821

(1)

Keeper's Choice²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D J Coakley| OR: 73| CD

5/2

C&D winner two starts back at this level and a 3lb rise looked fair so her subsequent sixth of nine at Newmarket was a little disappointing. Back on this course she should go well again and jockey booking a positive.

Form: 160-216

(8)

Game Player¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 79| BF

13/2

Returned from 366 days off when narrowly beaten as favourite in a Lingfield (AW) maiden last month. Steps into handicaps now and with any amount of improvement likely he looks one who could be seriously well treated.

Form: 74-2

(9)

Sir Roderic³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: A Kirby| T: B R Millman| OR: 70| D

12/1

Currently rated some 27lb below career high mark but gone 22 starts and 25 months without a win. Couple of promising thirds in the spring over 7f but gone backwards in two subsequent runs. Risky proposition.

Form: 943387

(7)

Deadly Accurate^b²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Fran Berry| T: H Morrison| OR: 74

25/1

Unsuccessful in eight handicaps to date including six this season. Couple of promising runs over 7f suggested the wait may not be long but lesser efforts last twice over a mile and jury still out at this trip.

Form: 862367

(10)

Pure Shores²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: James Doyle| T: Ian Williams| OR: 65

20/1

1m½f maiden winner at Wolverhampton (AW) but only beaten one rival in three starts since. Handicap in freefall but hard to fancy until seeing some encouragement.

Form: 0316-56

Forecasts

Keeper's Choice (5/2), Hombre Casado (4/1), Game Player (13/2), Enigmatic (7/1), Blistering Bob (8/1), Regimented (9/1), Sir Roderic (12/1), Exec Chef (14/1), Pure Shores (20/1), Deadly Accurate (25/1)

GAME PLAYER is a well-bred and highly inexperienced gelding who went very close to winning at Lingfield last time out despite 12 months on the side-lines. Roger Varian's three-year-old should strip fitter for that and looks the sort capable of big improvement. Dangers include Blistering Bob who absolutely hacked up on his handicap debut at Windsor and Hombre Casado who should be better suited by today's 1m trip.