14:45 Newmarket

Saturday 8 June 2019

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:35

Bernard Sunley Memorial Handicap

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 2m 55.6s

(4)

Red Galileo^h1²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: A Kirby| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 104| D

8/1

Just one win in 36 turf starts and losing run stretches back more than two years. Had been running well in defeat throughout the winter in Dubai, but just a respectable effort at York last time, and remains high in the weights. Hooded now.

Form: 322287

(16)

Proschema²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 103

6/1

Won twice on soft ground at the start of last season and may have needed the run on return at Newbury. Better signs when plugging on late at York last time, and worth a try at this trip on that evidence.

Form: 4382-68

(15)

Amazing Red¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: James Doyle| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 102| CD

14/1

Showed liking for staying trips last season, winning two handicaps at 1¾m/2m. Creditable third of six at Goodwood last time, and return to a bigger field will help, for all he has no secrets from the handicapper.

Form: 0-43273

(6)

The Grand Visir^t¹³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: S A Gray| T: Ian Williams| OR: 101| C

33/1

Sprung a shock over this trip at Doncaster on sole start for John Butler, and while he's made only minor impact over hurdles for his new yard, he is still relatively unexposed under these conditions, and can't be ruled out.

Form: 58/0101-

(13)

Melting Dew³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 100

12/1

Disappointed on final start last year at York, and similar story when easy to back on return over 1½m here. May have needed that, and in excellent hands, but has a bit to prove.

Form: 41120-9

(14)

Restorer²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Darragh Keenan⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 100

14/1

Largely consistent at 1¼m/1½m, and again ran with credit when fourth at Chester last time, but this looks tougher, and his stamina for this trip can only be taken on trust.

Form: 51742-4

(10)

What A Welcome¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Joey Haynes| T: P R Chamings| OR: 100

8/1

Hugely likeable and progressive last year, winning six times at trips up to 2m. Back in the groove when just failing to get up at Goodwood last time, and sure to give his usual honest display once more.

Form: 4111-82

(8)

Speedo Boy²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Watson| T: Ian Williams| OR: 96

11/1

Ran well in the Cesarewitch last autumn, and has had excuses for lesser efforts last year, having little chance from his position in the Chester Cup last time. Slipping back to a fair mark.

Form: 356-667

(17)

Spirit Ridge³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 92

4/1

Made all for an impressive win on handicap debut at Leicester (1½m) in October Not seen to best effect on return here in May, finishing well after losing his place, and of interest from this mark upped to 1¾m, which is sure to suit.

Form: 4121-5

(11)

Theglasgowwarrior²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 91

12/1

Fine fifth in Cesarewitch here in the autumn, and back to winning ways with a late thrust at Hamilton (1½m) last time. Only gone up 2lb for that win and likely to throw down a big challenge over this trip.

Form: 356-321

(2)

Billy Ray²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Callum Shepherd| T: M R Channon| OR: 90| D

33/1

Both career wins have come on soft/heavy ground and yet to prove as effective on a sound surface. Ascot reappearance (2m, soft) was also a disappointment, fading from the front, so positives are hard to find.

Form: 60513-6

(9)

Ashington^v²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Tom Marquand| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 88| C

33/1

Well beaten on his return to action having left Luca Cumani, and although he showed more when 3½L fifth of 8 to Theglasgowwarrior at Hamilton last time, he would appear held by the winner on revised terms.

Form: 1412-05

(1)

Great Hall¹⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 8-6| J: K T O'Neill| T: M Quinn| OR: 86| D

33/1

Grand servant to connections over the years, but approaching veteran status now, and not seen since running poorly on Fibresand at Southwell in January. Plenty to prove.

Form: 46366-5

(5)

Lissitzky^p1²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: M Dwyer| T: A M Balding| OR: 85| D

7/1

Not beaten far on Salisbury return, and defied market weakness when winning over C&D last time by 1¾L from All Set To Go. No fluke about that, and respected with cheekpieces added for this sterner test.

Form: 7128-41

(7)

Fire Jet²²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: J Quinn| T: J Mackie| OR: 84| CD

16/1

Failed to win last year, but not for the want of trying. Better effort this season when 4L third of 10 to Lissitzky over C&D last time, and now 5lb better off, so not dismissed out of hand.

Form: 6329-03

Non-Runners

(12)

Cohesion³⁰

Weight: 9-5| Age: 6

T: D G Bridgwater J: K Stott

(3)

Hareeq²²

Weight: 8-8| Age: 4

T: R Hughes J: S W Kelly

Forecasts

Spirit Ridge (4/1), Proschema (6/1), Lissitzky (7/1), Red Galileo (8/1), What A Welcome (8/1), Speedo Boy (11/1), Theglasgowwarrior (12/1), Melting Dew (12/1), Restorer (14/1), Amazing Red (14/1), Hareeq (14/1), Fire Jet (16/1), Cohesion (25/1), Billy Ray (33/1), Ashington (33/1), The Grand Visir (33/1), Great Hall (33/1)

Plenty to consider, among them the unexposed Spirit Ridge, who will relish the step up in trip, the likeable and tough What A Welcome and recent C&D winner Lissitzky, but preference is for Cesarewitch fifth THEGLASGOWWARRIOR, who ought to find this trip perfect in the conditions, and should have the race run to suit his strong-finishing style.