17:55 Newmarket

Saturday 29 September 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:2517:55

Newmarket Journal Handicap

Off time: 17:58 | Winning time: 1m 24.29s

(13)

Medahim³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 99| D

20/1

Impressive winner of a 7f Glorious Goodwood handicap was raised 5lb for that and struggled twice since, beating just one rival in each. Leap of faith required now.

Form: 404190

(12)

Muntadab⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Cameron Noble⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 97| D

12/1

Bogged down on heavy ground in the Ayr Gold Cup latest when well fancied by many. Best form is over this trip and chance off this mark at the pick of it although have to go back to Spring to find it.

Form: 273790

(8)

Ripp Orf²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Watson⁽³⁾| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 97| D

7/2

Big handicap specialist landed a big pot latest when prevailing in a 20-runner 7f Ascot handicap under this excellent apprentice jockey. 4lb rise seems generous so fully expecting him to again be in the thick of things.

Form: 912341

(4)

Gilgamesh^p1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: George Scott| OR: 97| D

8/1

York winner earlier in the campaign but well behind Ripp Orf latest when 11th of 20 at Ascot. That gives him a good bit to find although first-time cheekpieces a possible positive.

Form: 717070

(10)

Silver Line³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: H Crouch| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 96

8/1

Not won since debut but far from disgraced in three warm handicaps this summer from 1m-1m2f. Drop back in trip may suit him based on last two runs and is of some appeal here.

Form: 556309

(7)

Spanish City²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 94| D

4/1

Gone well in a series of big 7f handicaps including narrow fourth to Ripp Orf latest. 3lb better off with that rival today so every chance he can reverse the placings and earn a deserved success.

Form: 614264

(9)

Ice Lord²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Fran Berry| T: C F Wall| OR: 93

16/1

Good runs the last twice over 6f with a win and a second but well behind several of these on the July course last time over 7f so others more appealing here.

Form: 2-06012

(5)

Danielsflyer¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: T D Barron| OR: 92| C

13/2

Series of good efforts in 7f handicaps including ½L fourth latest at Leopardstown where he stayed on well. Always in the thick of things and expecting so again and deserves to win a contest such as this.

Form: 062264

(1)

Squats⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Georgia Cox⁽³⁾| T: W J Haggas| OR: 92| D

28/1

Bolted up in a race he'd won previously at Newbury in August but reverted to moderate form beforehand in three subsequent starts so harder to fancy now.

Form: 661007

(2)

Fennaan^h,t¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 93| BF| D

10/1

Progressive three-time winner's last run can be excused where he reared leaving the stalls and could then never get involved. More needed here but possibility he still has it in his locker for top trainer.

Form: 146518

(11)

Warsaw Road²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: J P Spencer| T: L M Cumani| OR: 87| D

17/2

Improved effort latest when sixth to Ripp Orf at 25/1. 4lb better off with that rival now so chance to close the gap and not out of this by any means.

Form: 1-44716

(3)

Robero^p⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 78| D

66/1

Not been in great form this summer and failed to fire in Ayr Bronze Cup latest. Others make more appeal especially with him 5lb out of the handicap. Also entered Pontefract Friday.

Form: 459350

Non-Runners

(6)

Nebo⁸

Weight: 9-9| Age: 3

T: C Hills J: L Dettori

Forecasts

Ripp Orf (7/2), Spanish City (4/1), Danielsflyer (13/2), Gilgamesh (8/1), Silver Line (8/1), Warsaw Road (17/2), Fennaan (10/1), Muntadab (12/1), Nebo (12/1), Ice Lord (16/1), Medahim (20/1), Squats (28/1), Robero (66/1)

A trio of perennial contenders in big 7f handicaps headline a very competitive contest and it could now be the turn of SPANISH CITY who is 3lb better off for his defeat by Ripp Orf latest and that could tilt the scales in his favour this time around. Danielsflyer is another always thereabouts and he too is fully expected to be in the thick of things where it matters.