16:40 Newbury

Thursday 13 June 2019

All14:0014:3015:0015:3516:1016:4017:15

Insure Wiser Handicap

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 2m 39.84s

(8)

Sapa Inca²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 77

5/2

A tough filly but still a maiden and in danger of becoming expensive to follow. However, she's yet to finish out of the frame over this trip cannot be crabbed for consistency. Can make the running and it'll take a good one to overhaul her.

Form: 44-2322

(6)

Zuba⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 75

5/1

Won a maiden over 1m2f on her final start as a juvenile and might have needed the run when third on his handicap debut in April; been off since but still worth a betting check now he tries this trip for the first time.

Form: 061-3

(5)

Group Stage³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: David Egan| T: A King| OR: 71

9/4

Best effort to date at Nottingham last time out but is 3lb higher and has a further 2f to travel. The betting can guide. Has gone well on soft ground so another to bear in mind if attracting support.

Form: 740-2

(1)

Ydra^b¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽⁵⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 68

20/1

Well held behind a Mark Johnston-trained hot-pot at Lingfield last month and already looks exposed as ordinary. Others hold stronger claims.

Form: 23472

(3)

Gino Wotimean³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: S W Kelly| T: Noel Williams| OR: 66

14/1

All four previous starts were at Wolverhampton and none gave the impression that his turn is close; big improvement needed now he switches to turf for the first time.

Form: 5-536

(4)

Admirals Bay¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| OR: 62

7/2

Bettered his form in two novice stakes and a maiden when scything through to win on his handicap debut at Yarmouth in May. The form is modest and more needed in this company.

Form: 0-901

Non-Runners

(9)

Natty Night²

Weight: 9-10| Age: 3

T: W R Muir J: M Dwyer

(2)

Young Merlin⁴⁰

Weight: 9-4| Age: 3

T: H & R Charlton J: Jason Watson

(7)

Ring Cycle²⁴

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: S Kirk J: Gary Mahon

Forecasts

Group Stage (9/4), Sapa Inca (5/2), Admirals Bay (7/2), Zuba (5/1), Natty Night (13/2), Young Merlin (12/1), Gino Wotimean (14/1), Ydra (20/1), Ring Cycle (33/1)

A tough one to call with most being unexposed handicappers who are still finding their way; Group Stage and Zuba both merit respect as improving individuals and are worth monitoring in the betting market, while Young Merlin and Natty Night have plenty of ability but need to take a step forward this time. Which, by process of elimination, focuses the attention on SAPA INCA, the tough filly at the top of the racecard. Top weight doesn't make it easy but the filly has sterling battling qualities and if she handles the ground, she can make the long journey down from her Middleham base very worthwhile.