15:50 Newmarket

Saturday 20 July 2019

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

AFH Wealth Management Handicap

Off time: 15:51 | Winning time: 1m 36.94s

(4)

Indeed³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: L P Keniry| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 100| D

3/1

Lightly raced four-year-old who has done nothing wrong in his two starts in Britain. Ready winner of 1m2f Chelmsford handicap last time out but that form hasn't worked out well. Back in trip and worth considering despite 5lb rise.

Form: 1615-21

(3)

Circus Couture^v³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: J F Egan| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 97| D

33/1

Registered his first in Britain and for this yard at Nottingham two starts ago but failed to perform in the Royal Hunt Cup in June (1m, soft). Dropped 5lb and this is an easier contest but has a bit to prove now.

Form: 608710

(6)

Via Serendipity^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Hayley Turner| T: S C Williams| OR: 96| D

10/1

Bounced back to form with Chelmsford victory on his penultimate start and wasn't disgraced when sixth in 1m Sandown handicap last time. Has a bit to find with Petrus on that run but only 1lb above last winning mark.

Form: 10-0816

(11)

Thrave³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Dane O'Neill| T: H Candy| OR: 92

9/2

Least exposed runner in the field. Couldn't replicate first two runs in handicaps when 10L ninth at Sandown (1m, good to soft) in June. Off the same mark here but can be forgiven for that run, especially if he gets his preferred faster conditions.

Form: 1/45-429

(7)

Alternative Fact³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Spencer| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 90| D

8/1

Appreciated the drop in the weights when registering career-best third in 1m Sandown handicap in June. Has to deal with 1lb rise this time but claims on encouraging effort last time.

Form: 549-003

(9)

Apex King²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: D Loughnane| OR: 90| C| D

6/1

Solid third of 12 in similar handicap at this track in late June (7f, good) was a step back in the right direction but remains an inconsistent sort. Still off a career-high mark but does have the tendency to cause a shock.

Form: 374173

(8)

Victory Command⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Vincent C Y Ho| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 97| BF| D

7/1

Has been in good form lately and backed up Hamilton victory two starts ago with 2l fourth in C&D handicap at the July festival. That was a muddling race and is still well handicapped in this company. Leading contender.

Form: 834614

(1)

Kuwait Currency³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 94| D

20/1

Form has gone backwards since winning Salisbury Listed contest last season. Has finished last in each start this year, including at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to soft) in June. Extreme drop in trip and has been gelded but very much opposable.

Form: 150-760

(2)

Global Gift^h²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: G Mosse| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 91| D

9/2

Made it a hat-trick of wins in handicap company when quickening clear to win at Doncaster (1m, good) on ground which wasn't expected to suit. No reason why he cannot progress again and likely to make a bold bid.

Form: 482111

Non-Runners

(5)

Petrus¹⁴

Weight: 9-13| Age: 4

T: B J Meehan J: M Dwyer

(10)

Balgair⁹

Weight: 8-13| Age: 5

T: Tom Clover J: P Cosgrave

Forecasts

Indeed (3/1), Thrave (9/2), Global Gift (9/2), Apex King (6/1), Victory Command (7/1), Petrus (7/1), Alternative Fact (8/1), Via Serendipity (10/1), Balgair (14/1), Kuwait Currency (20/1), Circus Couture (33/1)

Cases can be made for a handful of horses in this contest but preference is for VICTORY COMMAND, who came out with good credit from his latest effort as the race wasn't run at a true test and his hardened experience in this company should set him in good stead. Global Gift would be dangerous to ignore on the back of his drastic improvement and looks like the type that will have a big handicap in him down the line, while Thrave can be forgiven for his run on inadequate ground last time and Petrus should run his usually consistent race.