17:25 Newmarket

Saturday 28 September 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:25

Newmarket Journal And Velvet Magazine Handicap

Off time: 17:26 | Winning time: 1m 24.33s

(9)

Firmament^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 98| D

12/1

Consistent sort who belatedly got his head back in front in a York handicap back in June. Running well in defeat since but hasn't shown his best form at this venue to date and possibly slightly more effective at 1m.

Form: 016454

(11)

Spanish City²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Marco Ghiani⁽⁷⁾| T: R Varian| OR: 97| D

7/1

At his best on fast ground, as seen when winning at Yarmouth in August and has run some of his better races in his career at this venue on both this and the July course. Yet to win from a mark this high but only beaten 1L last time and respected.

Form: 534015

(3)

Gossiping²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: S W Kelly| T: G & J Moore| OR: 96| D

25/1

Rattled off a hat-trick earlier in the season but he's found life tough from his revised handicap mark more recently. Only dropped 1lb for his latest turf effort and looks vulnerable to better handicapped sorts.

Form: 111708

(8)

Battered¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 96| D

10/1

Missed 2018 having cost these connections 200,000 gns at the end of 2017. Has shown he retains ability in three starts for this yard and may have needed the run on his first start in 205 days when a shade unlucky at Doncaster last time; interesting.

Form: 122/455

(10)

Above The Rest^h¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: David Egan| T: T D Barron| OR: 95| D

33/1

Very best efforts have come at Listed/Group 3 level on AW and seems to have badly lost his way since winning at Wolverhampton in March. Certainly capable from this mark on turf but impossible to recommend at present.

Form: 070509

(7)

Vitralite³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: K R Burke| OR: 98| D

11/2

Won his first two starts, both at Haydock and only narrowly denied on handicap debut at York last time out in what looked a competitive heat. Less exposed than most and could be hard to pass in an expected bid to make all back down in trip here.

Form: 1142

(12)

Dubai Legacy²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 97| D

9/4

Won three of his first four starts but progress seems to have halted a little since his AW win in May. Hasn't always looked like the strongest stayer at 1m so the drop in trip could help but may need more relief from the handicapper.

Form: 1-13033

(1)

Riviera Nights²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: R Hannon| OR: 93| D

13/2

Got his head back in front on his first start since wind surgery at Ascot last time out. May be able to come on for that first run in 90 days but will probably need to from a 6lb higher mark in a deeper race.

Form: 11-3001

(5)

Count Otto^h¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P J Dobbs| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 89| BF

22/1

Won a five runner event over 6f here last summer but hasn't looked as effective on previous tries at 7f and while he's been running okay in defeat of late, he's still above his highest winning handicap mark as a result.

Form: 062253

(6)

Breathless Times^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: S C Williams| OR: 88| D

14/1

All four of his wins have come on AW and beaten a long way in two previous starts at this venue (his only two turf runs). May have needed the run on debut for this yard last time and the handicapper has tried to give him a chance here.

Form: 16-5740

(4)

Blackheath²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: E Walker| OR: 88| D

7/1

Not the most consistent type but managed to get his head back in front at Leicester earlier in the campaign over this trip. All his best form has come on fast ground and he's gone off the boil lately; opposable.

Form: 271709

(2)

Model Guest⁸⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: T P Queally| T: G G Margarson| OR: 90| BF

40/1

Finished a good fifth in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot, but she disappointed in what a looked a good opportunity last time out in an average event. Remains a maiden and drop back in trip perhaps not ideal.

Form: 24-5453

Forecasts

Dubai Legacy (9/4), Vitralite (11/2), Riviera Nights (13/2), Spanish City (7/1), Blackheath (7/1), Battered (10/1), Firmament (12/1), Breathless Times (14/1), Count Otto (22/1), Gossiping (25/1), Above The Rest (33/1), Model Guest (40/1)

A wide-open contest but it might be worth taking a chance on BATTERED who shaped a little better than the bare result at Doncaster last time out and is entitled to come on for that outing. Vitralite is an obvious threat on just his fifth career starts having only been narrowly denied at York last time on handicap debut. Spanish City is another contender if the ground continues to dry out.