Newmarket Challenge Whip Handicap

Off time: 17:50 | Winning time: 2m 4.73s

(4)

Thimbleweed²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 81| D

5/2

Dual winner on turf last season but has found life tough this season. Latest 5L defeat at Kempton (1m4f) was respectable enough and eased a further 3lb in the weights.

Form: 125-855

(2)

Leader Writer^v1²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: G Mosse| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 77

6/1

Good third at Beverley on seasonal debut but well held since, including 8L defeat in 1m Kempton handicap earlier this month. Below last winning mark but significant bounce back required.

Form: 9-35094

(3)

Felix⁷⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 82WS

9/2

Promising sort with Luca Cumani last season but bombed out markedly this season, including at Doncaster (1m2f) in July. Excuses for both of them efforts though and has been gelded and had wind surgery since.

Form: 312-484

(1)

Isomer²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 77

2/1

Hasn't won in over a year now and not landed a telling blow recently, including 9L fifth in 1m Kempton handicap last time. Needs a considerable revival.

Form: 675735

(6)

Quick²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 80| D

8/1

Winner at Newbury on debut and got first success since then with victory at Brighton (1m2f) last time. Form dips in and out but player if on a going day.

Form: 192771

(5)

Voice Of Calm³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: J Quinn| T: H J L Dunlop| OR: 67

14/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Regressed since encouraging debut, including 10L third at Kempton (1m4f) last month. Major improvement required on handicap bow.

Form: 433

Forecasts

Isomer (2/1), Thimbleweed (5/2), Felix (9/2), Leader Writer (6/1), Quick (8/1), Voice Of Calm (14/1)

FELIX has looked a shadow of his former self this season when bombing out the last twice, but can be given a chance after some operations for a powerful yard in what looks a weak-looking race. His main rival is likely to come from Quick, who took a similar contest at Brighton last time but has proven to be inconsistent while Thimbleweed is now being given a chance by the handicapper to stage a revival, but her current form is off-putting and still has to give weight all round.