14:35 Newbury

Friday 12 April 2019

All14:0014:3515:0515:4016:1016:4517:2017:50

Dubai Duty Free Handicap

Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 1m 2.48s

(6)

Ice Age²⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 103| C

8/1

Capable sprinter who won twice over 6f last season. Can go well fresh, but drop to the minimum trip on reappearance may not be ideal.

Form: 103470-

(4)

Stake Acclaim⁵¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: A Kirby| T: D K Ivory| OR: 101| D

25/1

Useful handicap form over 5f and 6f in 2017, but has not been seen since. Feasibly handicapped if ready to go after his long absence.

Form: 130200/

(3)

Spoof^h¹⁸⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: C Hills| OR: 98| D

12/1

Chester winner last May, but was quite highly tried in subsequent outings and was found wanting. Remains 3lb higher than for last success, but stable has started the season quite well.

Form: 310577-

(2)

Orvar⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: L Morris| T: P T Midgley| OR: 97| D

14/1

Successful in a conditions race at Beverley in September and performed with credit at Meydan before finishing seventh of eight at Wolverhampton in February. Inching down the handicap.

Form: 101-447

(7)

Kick On Kick On¹⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: W Buick| T: C G Cox| OR: 95| DWS

4/1

Three wins in eight starts on turf, including at Windsor in July. Performed well off this sort of mark when last seen in the autumn and it will be interesting to see if a wind operation can eke out improvement.

Form: 1/18433-

(1)

Blue De Vega¹⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: P J McDonald| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 91| D

5/1

Kept busy last season when his only success came in a valuable handicap at Ascot. Potentially dangerous off a 2lb lower mark if refreshed after his winter break

Form: 530550-

(8)

Gracious John²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: P D Evans| OR: 91| CD

5/1

Last year's winner whose recent AW efforts have been encouraging enough to suggest another success is not too far away. Nicely handicapped on return to turf and handles cut in the ground.

Form: 23-6434

(5)

Moon Trouble^h1¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: S De Sousa| T: M Appleby| OR: 90| D

9/4

First run for this stable after leaving Eoghan O'Neill's yard in France when fair sixth in strong 6f contest at Kempton. Best form is over shorter and and positive jockey booking suggests connections mean business. Hood fitted for first time.

Form: 68245-6

Forecasts

Moon Trouble (9/4), Kick On Kick On (4/1), Blue De Vega (5/1), Gracious John (5/1), Ice Age (8/1), Spoof (12/1), Orvar (14/1), Stake Acclaim (25/1)

It would be no surprise to see Kick On Kick On do just that after his wind operation, but the vote goes to bottom-weight MOON TROUBLE, who shaped well over a distance beyond his best on his first run for a new stable at Kempton and should be better suited to this sharper test. A host of dangers are headed by Blue De Vega, Orvar and Gracious John.