13:30 Newmarket

Saturday 2 November 2019

All11:4512:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:15

Happy 21st Birthday Tom Bownes Handicap

Off time: 13:32 | Winning time: 1m 43.58s

(3)

Hawridge Storm²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J F Egan| T: B R Millman| OR: 78

14/1

Can miss the break and best effort remains his runner-up at Goodwood in June. Back to form when second at Ascot last month, seeming to prove his effectiveness on soft ground in the process. Needs to back that up.

Form: 028252

(12)

Woodside Wonder^v⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 78

16/1

Consistent sort who bounced back from a rare blip when runner-up at Hamilton last time, but he's 5lb above the mark he won off at Catterick in September, and handicapper just about in charge.

Form: 234102

(6)

George Of Hearts^t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Cieren Fallon⁽³⁾| T: George Baker| OR: 75

13/2

Took a step back in the right direction on his first run for this yard at Newbury in September, but not at his best on softer ground the last twice, and opposable again in the conditions.

Form: 089536

(5)

Villette²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Joey Haynes| T: D K Ivory| OR: 75| CD

9/1

Respectable efforts on the whole since winning at Kempton a year ago. Bit disappointing she couldn't do better after a break at Nottingham last month, but possible she needed that more than expected, and has won over C&D in the past.

Form: 379644

(9)

Critical Time^p1³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 77

8/1

Steady progress in qualifying, and took a step forward to win on handicap debut at Newcastle (1m) last time. Unexposed, and should improve enough to go close despite a small rise. Cheekpieces fitted now.

Form: 5221

(16)

Madeleine Bond¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: David Probert| T: H Candy| OR: 75| D

6/1

Slipped in the weights and produced best effort this season when winning a heavy-ground 1m handicap at Windsor last time by a neck from Espresso Freddo. Should remain competitive despite a 4lb rise given last season's form off higher marks.

Form: 375241

(10)

Storm Ahead^b¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 75| D

12/1

Only win since 2016 came at Doncaster on soft ground earlier this year. Can go well when he gets a decent pace to aim at, and has run creditably on his last two starts, so should be thereabouts.

Form: 284033

(11)

Robero²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Toby Eley⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 73

16/1

Handles soft ground, but arguably a more potent force on AW these days, so it remains to be seen whether he can back up his recent second to Sea Fox at Wolverhampton.

Form: 245292

(15)

Hammer Gun^v⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: D Shaw| OR: 72| BF| D

10/1

Best produced late and it all fell right when he won at Pontefract on his penultimate start. Similar form when second at Southwell last time, and claims if getting the race run to suit here.

Form: 687212

(7)

Epic Adventure⁷³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: G Mosse| T: R A Teal| OR: 72

40/1

Out of form in France last year for Stephane Cerulis, and didn't offer much on debut for current yard after a year off at Kempton in August.

Form: 41/079-8

(8)

Elysium Dream¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R Hannon| OR: 71| C

25/1

Won from an 13lb higher mark on turf last August but been in the doldrums from the majority of the 2019 Flat season, and no hint of a revival at Kempton last week.

Form: 246568

(1)

The Night King¹⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: F Norton| T: M Quinn| OR: 69| D

25/1

Made a winning return at Chelmsford in March and not discredited without posing a win threat in three turf runs in mid-summer. On a fair mark, but of more interest when returning to AW.

Form: 444533

(2)

Highlight Reel¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: J Fanning| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 68

11/1

Both wins have cone over 7f on the July Course. Yet to click since joining current yard, but showed more at Musselburgh last time, and has become well treated, so not dismissed.

Form: 340804

(18)

Espresso Freddo^v¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: K Shoemark| T: R Stephens| OR: 68| D

5/1

Runner-up twice in the mud since winning a 1m handicap at Bath in September, most recently when beaten narrowly by Madeleine Bond at Windsor. Should given another good account.

Form: 349122

(19)

Sassoon^b1¹⁰⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: B A Curtis| T: P & O Cole| OR: 70

16/1

Overall record is unconvincing, and well held the last twice, but unexposed, and yard has an exceptional record when utilising blinkers for the first time. Not a surprise to see an improved display, therefore, and could offer value.

Form: 2-73387

(14)

Shattering³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: David Egan| T: P & O Cole| OR: 68

16/1

Best effort in qualifying when fourth at Epsom last time, and wasn't persevered with when held. Could improve now handicapping, but mark is stiff on balance.

Form: 894

Non-Runners

(13)

Brother McGonagall²⁴

Weight: 9-11| Age: 5

T: T D Easterby J: J P Sullivan

(4)

Azzeccagarbugli²⁴

Weight: 9-7| Age: 6

T: M Murphy J: Rossa Ryan

(17)

Sea Fox²¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 5

T: P D Evans J: C Lee

(20)

Gregorian Girl³⁸

Weight: 8-9| Age: 3

T: D K Ivory J: M Dwyer

Forecasts

Espresso Freddo (5/1), Madeleine Bond (6/1), George Of Hearts (13/2), Critical Time (8/1), Villette (9/1), Hammer Gun (10/1), Highlight Reel (11/1), Storm Ahead (12/1), Gregorian Girl (12/1), Hawridge Storm (14/1), Sea Fox (14/1), Sassoon (16/1), Shattering (16/1), Woodside Wonder (16/1), Robero (16/1), Brother McGonagall (16/1), Azzeccagarbugli (16/1), Elysium Dream (25/1), The Night King (25/1), Epic Adventure (40/1)

Critical Time has obvious claims having gone up just 3lb for her handicap debut success at Newcastle, and she will go well if adapting to the different demands she faces here. Madeleine Bond and Espresso Freddo are closely matched on recent Windsor running and should continue in form, but Paul Cole has produced six winners from twelve three-year-olds to wear blinkers this year, and it's worth chancing SASSOON at a big price now the headgear goes on.