16:55 Newbury

Friday 17 May 2019

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

John Sunley Memorial Handicap

Off time: 16:57 | Winning time: 2m 19.78s

(10)

Prejudice²⁰³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 85| BF

10/3

Improved to win on nursery bow at Redcar (1m) and better still when third in similar event at Doncaster on final start. Bred in the purple, and open to further improvement having left Luca Cumani.

Form: 64513-

(9)

Gantier^b²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 85

9/1

Consistent form on the AW since the turn of the year. Second to a progressive sort at Wolverhampton in March, and back on the up when winning a 1½m handicap at Newcastle last time. Claims if translating that form to turf, and no reason why he won't.

Form: 2-21231

(7)

Sash¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 82

33/1

Won at Lingfield on penultimate start when faced wit a fairly simple task, and better than the bare result when fifth behind Mayfair Spirit at Salisbury last time. Didn't quite get home there, so this longer trip is unsure to suit.

Form: 226-15

(5)

Ballylemon⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: A Kirby| T: R Hughes| OR: 81| BF

3/1

Promise in three turf qualifying runs and duly improved when 1½L second of 7 to Noble Lineage on handicap debut at Wolverhampton (1m1½f) last time. Remains with scope, and claims if staying this longer trip.

Form: 334-2

(2)

Guildhall¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 78| BF

12/1

Improved form when third on handicap debut at Doncaster (1¼m), and backed that up when 2½L fourth of 10 to Mayfair Spirit at Salisbury last time. Doing best work late there, and longer trip will suit.

Form: 314-34

(6)

Blood Eagle²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 77

14/1

Best effort when winning a 1½m novice at Wolverhampton last month, but proved a disappointment on handicap debut at Bath last time, and others preferred now.

Form: 5215

(3)

The Pink'n¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: S M Levey| T: J W Mullins| OR: 77

9/1

Won at Goodwood (1¼m, heavy) on final 2-y-o start, and better effort this season when third to Mayfair Spirit at Salisbury last time. That form looks solid, and he's not underestimated despite likely generous odds.

Form: 661-53

(11)

Alhaazm²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Jim Crowley| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 77

5/1

Brother to Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Awtaad, although he hasn't really improved since a promising debut at Wolverhampton in November. may have needed the run at Nottingham last month, though, and much too soon to write him off.

Form: 34-4

(8)

Kiefer¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 75

8/1

Pour Moi half-brother to smart 1¼m-1¾m winner Bauer and useful 1¼m-1¾m winner Boz, both in this ownership. Improved when second of 12 to Eagles By Day in maiden at Salisbury last time, and type to do better again now handicapping.

Form: 7-62

(1)

War Eagle^p²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: S Donohoe| T: Ian Williams| OR: 75

100/1

Trained by John Gosden last season when he ended his campaign with victory in a Wolverhampton nursery. Ran poorly on return/debut for new yard at Doncaster, however, and passed over now.

Form: 52741-8

Non-Runners

(4)

Chinese Alphabet²⁰

Weight: 8-3| Age: 3

T: W J Knight J: David Egan

Forecasts

Ballylemon (3/1), Prejudice (10/3), Alhaazm (5/1), Kiefer (8/1), Gantier (9/1), The Pink'n (9/1), Guildhall (12/1), Blood Eagle (14/1), Chinese Alphabet (16/1), Sash (33/1), War Eagle (100/1)

A handicap full of unexposed sorts, and hard to call as a result. THE PINK'N was in front of a couple of these rivals in a well-contested handicap at Salisbury, and is at least as likely to improve for the stiffer test, so could provide some value, while Prejudice and Alhaazm are closely related to winners at the highest level, and merit maximum respect as a result. Kiefer is from a late-developing, but prolific family and isn't overburdened for his handicap debut.