16:55 Newmarket

Saturday 10 August 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Royal British Legion Handicap

Off time: 16:57 | Winning time: 2m 2.40s

(2)

Ventura Knight⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 96

15/2

Good fourth in hot handicap on opening day of Glorious Goodwood last week but didn't sparkle back there last Saturday. Turns out again fairly quickly and will do well to score off top weight in decent event.

Form: 253440

(4)

Eynhallow⁴¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 96| D

7/2

Very consistent handicapper last season for Roger Charlton and ran well on both starts for current yard at Meydan last winter. Fair seventh in Duke Of Edinburgh handicap back on turf at Royal Ascot in June. Strongly run 10f may suit well.

Form: 432/427-

(9)

Victory Chime^v¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 88| D

14/1

Fair strike rate for handicapper winning 5-14 altogether. Responded well to first-time visor at Sandown rceently to score by half a length over this trip. 7lb hike makes life a lot tougher though.

Form: 1-61351

(5)

Waldstern^v1³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 96| C

11/2

First-time visor applied after two basically disappointing runs over further in good company this term. Drop back in trip may help but appeared to lack gears over further so has a bit to prove.

Form: 124-56

(1)

Ashington^v⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 87| C

20/1

Two wins last season over 1m4f for Luca Cumani but hasn't been in same form in three starts this season for new connections. May not have stayed 1m6f last time but jury out on him at this half-mile shorter trip in current form.

Form: 412-056

(6)

Desert Icon¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas| OR: 91| BF| D

9/4

Won 1m2f Pontefract novice event in May and made winning handicap debut over 1m4f at Salisbury in June. Made favourite at Glorious Goodwood last time following 7lb rise but never got into it after being hampered over 2f out. May bounce back.

Form: 41318

(3)

Howman⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 81| BF

3/1

Won twice last term at 1m1f and ran solid race after 11-month absence when second at Newcastle in 1m2f handicap in June. Still unexposed at this trip and market may indicate how much confidence lies behind him here.

Form: 36117-2

Non-Runners

(8)

First Sitting¹¹

Weight: 9-13| Age: 8

T: C F Wall J: A Kirby

(7)

Highbrow³⁸

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: D M Simcock J: Charles Bishop

Forecasts

Desert Icon (9/4), Howman (3/1), Eynhallow (7/2), Waldstern (11/2), Ventura Knight (15/2), Highbrow (12/1), Victory Chime (14/1), Ashington (20/1), First Sitting (20/1)

A trappy handicap but the drop back in trip could be just the ticket for EYNHALLOW, especially if they go a decent gallop. Desert Icon didn't get the run of the race when favourite at Glorious Goodwood last time and could be dangerous if things go his way this time, and bottom weight Howman is unexposed and could be open to further improvement. Victory Chime won well in the visor at Sandown and the headgear may inspire him again, while both Ventura Knight and Highbrow come into the equation on the pick of thier form.