19:30 Newmarket

Friday 17 August 2018

All17:2517:5518:3019:0019:3020:05

Fly London Southend Airport To Budapest Handicap

Off time: 19:40 | Winning time: 2m 8.75s

(16)

Westward Ho⁴⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: G Mosse| T: J D Bethell| OR: 70

14/1

Returns from a long absence having been below form in a couple of handicap outings last spring. Now 9lb below the mark he was initially allotted by the assessor, but hard to enthuse about his chances given his profile.

Form: 5310/86-

(10)

Take A Turn²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: S Donohoe| T: D R Lanigan| OR: 69| D

8/1

Picked up a couple of 0-60 handicaps last year at this trip, and has run well on both starts this season, with latest race not run to suit. Still 7lb above his last winning mark but not out of this on his best form, and recent rain a plus.

Form: 6145-23

(17)

Whitlock^p¹¹^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 69| D

5/2

Stepped up on seasonal debut when finishing fourth over 1¼m at Newcastle, and improved again in cheekpieces when making a winning handicap debut at Windsor last time. More to do under a penalty, but unexposed, and likely to progress further.

Form: 8-941

(1)

Ban Shoof^b²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: T P Queally| T: G & J Moore| OR: 66| D

16/1

Winner on turf and AW last season, and probably needed the run when third of 5 at Epsom after a 4-month break in July. Should do better, but others look to have more to offer.

Form: 291-323

(12)

Kings Academy⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: F Norton| T: J Mackie| OR: 65

14/1

Not long with current yard, and ran creditably when fifth of 17 at Nottingham in April. Not in same form at Pontefract next time, albeit not disgraced, and could need this after nearly three months off.

Form: 432-756

(15)

Connemera Queen⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Tim Clark⁽³⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 64

25/1

Does most of her racing at Kempton, winning over 1m there in May. Bit disappointing on rare turf outing here in June, and beaten a fair way when fourth at favoured venue last time.

Form: 513554

(5)

Brancaster¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Hayley Turner| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 62

6/1

Beaten a long way in three qualifying runs, and opening mark a stiff one, as he showed when only sixth on handicap bow at Epsom last time. Races off same mark here, and looks to have it to do.

Form: 6776

(6)

Lyrica's Lion²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Rob J Fitzpatrick⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss S West| OR: 62| D

8/1

Best form on quick ground/AW. Unfancied when successful twice last year for Michael Attwater, and repeated that feat on second start for John Long at Brighton in June. Followed up at Sandown last time, and has changed yards again since.

Form: 351-011

(13)

Sussex Girl⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J P Fahy| T: John Berry| OR: 59| BF| D

6/1

Both wins have come with ease underfoot, but has been running creditably of late on quicker ground, making the frame over C&D and at Yarmouth on last two starts. More needed to win, but rain boosts her chances.

Form: 043633

(4)

Hard Toffee⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: L Allan| OR: 58

25/1

Two years since last win, and while he ran well enough on seasonal debut, his efforts since have been poor, and given a break since finishing weakly at Leicester in May.

Form: 44-3866

(8)

Matewan^p1¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Fran Berry| T: Ian Williams| OR: 61

12/1

Well held in qualifying runs, but improved when 3L third of 9 to Angel of The North in handicap at Wolverhampton last time. Needs more switched back to turf in cheekpieces, but unexposed, and may well do better.

Form: 970-3

(7)

Rivers Of Asia^p⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Harry Bentley| T: Martin Smith| OR: 53

33/1

Had to go to Guernsey to break his duck in May, and less impact otherwise this year, although was hampered when mid-field over C&D last time. First mount for young rider, the son of former champion jockey Kieren Fallon.

Form: 371456

(9)

Plucky Dip¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Rhiain Ingram⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ryan| OR: 53

100/1

Well beaten in two turf starts since returning from a break this summer, and while he is possibly working his way to full fitness, he still makes limited appeal at present.

Form: 8-97504

(14)

Lucky's Dream³²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: Ian Williams| OR: 59

20/1

Well held in four starts last year for Dave Evans, but is bred to do better with time, and not without interest starting out from lowly mark for shrewd new yard. Market will reveal expectations.

Form: 0740-

(2)

Roof Garden¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Liam Jones| T: M H Tompkins| OR: 55

50/1

Just a modicum of promise in qualifying runs, and hasn't really improved for switch to handicaps on last two outings, although may have needed the run after a break last time, having been gelded in the interim.

Form: 8057-6

Non-Runners

(3)

Dagian⁴⁷

Weight: 9-9| Age: 3

T: Mrs A J Perrett J: Non Runner

(11)

Austin Friars²³

Weight: 9-0| Age: 6

T: J & S Best J: Patrick Pilley

Forecasts

Whitlock (5/2), Brancaster (6/1), Sussex Girl (6/1), Dagian (15/2), Lyrica's Lion (8/1), Take A Turn (8/1), Matewan (12/1), Kings Academy (14/1), Westward Ho (14/1), Ban Shoof (16/1), Lucky's Dream (20/1), Hard Toffee (25/1), Connemera Queen (25/1), Rivers Of Asia (33/1), Austin Friars (33/1), Roof Garden (50/1), Plucky Dip (100/1)

WHITLOCK isn't obviously well-in under a penalty for winning at Windsor, but his profile is one of quiet progression, and he's in excellent hands, so gets the nod in a run-of-the-mill handicap. Sussex Girl is running well of late, and caught the eye here last time, so is feared with softening ground in her favour, while Lucky's Dream is probably not the forlorn hope his profile suggests, and is worth a market check starting out for the shrewd Ian Williams stable.