14:10 Newbury

Friday 17 May 2019

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:2516:5517:30

Coolmore Stud Handicap

Off time: 14:12 | Winning time: 1m 11.38s

(7)

Fighting Irish²⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: H J L Dunlop| OR: 100| D

12/1

Camelot colt whose best effort in 2018 came when eighth in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Below that form afterwards, and needs to bounce back after a break.

Form: D38503-

(9)

Ice Age²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 99| CD

11/2

Tough sort who won this race last year and is now back on his winning mark. Below form this year, but possible he's been getting fit for a repeat bid here, and merits respect.

Form: 3470-56

(2)

Walk On Walter^h²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: J G Portman| OR: 95| D

6/1

Front runner who has won four of his last five starts on AW surfaces. Clearly improving fast, so not ruled out, for all he needs to prove he can translate his progress to turf.

Form: 6112-11

(10)

Fille De Reve²²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Spencer| T: E Walker| OR: 94| BF| D

7/1

Just 3lb higher than when finishing with a rattle to win by a nose at Ascot (6f) in September. Worth ignoring her subsequent effort on softer ground, and a big player here with conditions to suit.

Form: 825110-

(6)

Normandy Barriere²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁵⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 94| D

11/1

Claims on his close second at Doncaster in September, but has been well below form in three starts since, and has a bit to prove as a result.

Form: 2020-00

(11)

Habub²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 93| D

7/2

Has won both his starts to date, not needing to improve when landing a 6f novice at Lingfield last month. Has a Diamond Jubilee entry, and clearly held in high esteem, so shortlisted.

Form: 1-1

(4)

Miracle of Medinah²⁶⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: F Sweeney| T: M D I Usher| OR: 91| CD

16/1

Best on fast ground, so easy to ignore final start last year, and ran well to be placed at Ascot 12 months ago. Hard to win with these days, though, and vulnerable to less exposed rivals.

Form: 10/3630-

(5)

Embour¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 89| D

11/2

Won three times on the spin in sprint races last summer, including on handicap debut, and bounced back on return to score at Kempton. Good third at Doncaster last time, and a strong pace at this trip will suit his running style.

Form: 100-613

(8)

Global Tango^b²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Cieren Fallon⁽⁷⁾| T: C Hills| OR: 87| D

17/2

Has taken his form to another level since blinkers tried with wins at Lingfield and Kempton, but hit hard by the handicapper, and could finish only sixth behind Embour at latter track in April.

Form: 554116

Non-Runners

(1)

Vibrant Chords²

Weight: 9-6| Age: 6

T: H Candy J: David Probert

(3)

Mokarris⁴⁸

Weight: 9-5| Age: 5

T: S & E Crisford J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Habub (7/2), Embour (11/2), Ice Age (11/2), Walk On Walter (6/1), Fille De Reve (7/1), Global Tango (17/2), Vibrant Chords (10/1), Mokarris (10/1), Normandy Barriere (11/1), Fighting Irish (12/1), Miracle of Medinah (16/1)

No doubt Ice Age will make a bold bid for back-to-back wins in this contest, and he is respected from the same mark as for last year's win, but he is meeting an unexposed sprinter in HABUB, and Owen Burrows's 4-y-o can take this if his Diamond Jubilee entry is an accurate guide to his ability. Fille de Reve will relish the quickening ground, and also has more to offer this year.