17:25 Newbury

Saturday 18 May 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:25

Toronado Handicap (Str)

Off time: 17:27 | Winning time: 1m 38.02s

(9)

Robin Of Navan¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: H J L Dunlop| OR: 105| D

9/2

Bit disappointing since landing a French Group 1 as a juvenile, but not shaping up too badly this season, and ran well when third of 8 to Zaaki in a 1m Listed race at Ascot last time. Claims on rare handicap outing.

Form: 273-873

(14)

Petrus^p²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: M Dwyer| T: B J Meehan| OR: 100| D

9/1

Back to winning ways in the Spring Mile at Doncaster in March, and found a bit more improvement when nosing out Salute The Soldier at Bath last time. Should go well, but highest draw a concern.

Form: 5349-11

(1)

Breden³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: R Winston| T: Mrs L C Jewell| OR: 98| CD

10/1

Won three times last year, and at least as good as ever when dead-heating with Beringer for third in the Lincoln. Behind that rival at Newmarket last time, but easy enough to forgive that run as he met trouble.

Form: 1-24235

(6)

Medahim²³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: S M Levey| T: I Furtado| OR: 98| D

12/1

Won over 7f at Goodwood last August for Richard Hannon, but struggled subsequently and remains 3lb above his winning mark. Starts out for a new yard now.

Form: 041909-

(10)

Hors De Combat^p1⁸⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D J Coakley| OR: 97| D

16/1

Useful handicapper at around this trip, an while he hasn't really fired at Meydan this year, he's now 3lb lower than when winning there last year. Cheekpieces reached for now.

Form: 604-090

(4)

Salute The Soldier^p1²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: James Doyle| T: C G Cox| OR: 97| BF| D

7/2

Relegated to second after edging out the in-form Executive Force at Wolverhampton, and pushed Petrus all the way when beaten a nose at Bath last time. Big chance if cheekpieces can eke any more improvement out of him.

Form: 4112-D2

(13)

Max Zorin¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| OR: 97| D

50/1

Only win to date came in maiden company, and he was off almost two years before bringing up the rear at Newmarket on his return. Unlikely to figure despite easing 3lb in weights.

Form: 01343/0

(7)

Wahash²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: T Hamilton| T: R Hannon| OR: 96| BF| D

16/1

Yet to win on turf, but ran well when third at Bath on penultimate start, and shaped better than the result when fifth of 14 to Safe Voyage at Haydock last time. Not dismissed out of hand.

Form: 46-0935

(8)

Cosmeapolitan²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: A King| OR: 95| C

33/1

Beat stable companion Caspar The Cub over 1½m at Lingfield in December and has been placed off higher marks. Ran badly at this trip last time, however, and no reason why it will suit him now.

Form: 31-2300

(11)

Masham Star⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 93| D

20/1

Talented handicapper, but hard to catch right, and while he hinted at a revival when second at Windsor, he couldn't match that form when last of six at Chelmsford. Will bounce back at some point, but hard to know when.

Form: 600026

(5)

Arcanada^p²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 92| D

16/1

Yet to capture best form this season, but did too much too soon when ninth of 11 to Oh This Is Us in All-Weather Mile Championships blast time, and will find this a little less demanding.

Form: 001-549

(2)

Thrave³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Jason Watson| T: H Candy| OR: 91

4/1

Lightly raced sort who made a belated handicap debut after a break at Newmarket behind Beringer last time, and shaped as well as anything until lack of fitness told. Should go close if building as expected on that effort.

Form: 21/45-4

(12)

Jackpot Royale²¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-3| J: S De Sousa| T: M Appleby| OR: 87| C| D

20/1

Completed hat-trick with wins at Thirsk, Salisbury and over 7f here last term, but went up 18lb for those wins, and well beaten on final start. Best effort came on heavy ground.

Form: 251110-

(3)

Graphite Storm¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: K T O'Neill| T: C G Cox| OR: 87| C

16/1

Winner of three of his 16 races, most recently over 7f at Leicester in September 2017. Just a respectable third on his return at Lingfield, and must step up to score here.

Form: 89328-3

Forecasts

Salute The Soldier (7/2), Thrave (4/1), Robin Of Navan (9/2), Petrus (9/1), Breden (10/1), Medahim (12/1), Hors De Combat (16/1), Wahash (16/1), Graphite Storm (16/1), Arcanada (16/1), Masham Star (20/1), Jackpot Royale (20/1), Cosmeapolitan (33/1), Max Zorin (50/1)

THRAVE is very lightly raced, and shaped well on his return/handicap debut at Newmarket. If he can build on that as expected, then he can take advantage of a very fair mark, at the chief expense of the thriving Salute The Soldier. Arcanada is better than he's been able to show of late, and could easily get involved if pinching a soft lead.