15:00 Newmarket

Friday 5 June 2020

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:5518:30

Betway Paradise Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 1m 34.47s

(4)

Bless Him^h²⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Callum Shepherd| T: D M Simcock| OR: 107| D

25/1

Hit form with a vengeance end of last season winning at Yarmouth then at Ascot. Raised a hefty 10lb since latter win so will need to run above and beyond that mark to score here.

Form: 742011-

(10)

Dawaam²³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 96| D

8/1

Bought for $450,000 as a yearling and has run twice, winning on both occasions on the AW. Completely unexposed and could be anything as he makes his turf debut. Interesting to see if the market speaks in his favour as this is a big step up in class.

Form: 1/1-

(9)

Escobar^t²³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 111| D

12/1

Goes particularly well at Ascot when he ended last season winning valuable Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day. Second highest rated on official figures so should be thereabouts and handles any surface.

Form: 135431-

(5)

Lord Tennyson¹⁰⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| D

6/1

Looked one for the future when winning his only start at at Chelmsford in February with plenty in hand. This is a different kettle of fish and he makes his turf bow, but top combination always respected and he certainly enters the equation.

Form: 1

(7)

Marie's Diamond⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 106| D

14/1

Group 3 winner as a juvenile and placed in Group 2 over sprint distances. Popped up to land 1m Listed event at Pontefract last term and may do well this time around. Has a a few pounds to find on official figures.

Form: 8411P-3

(12)

Momkin^b⁹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: David Egan| T: W J Haggas| OR: 109

11/2

Just 1-11 tells its own story but is a talented colt who may do better this season. Went close a number of times in 2019, stays well enough, but suspicion he may be best at 7f.

Form: 62325-7

(8)

Mythical Magic¹⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 108| D

7/2

Runner-up in two Group 2's at Meydan this winter having been found out at the very highest level in UK last spring. This is more his bag and stable always worth considering. Good to Firm ground would be plenty quick enough for him though.

Form: 2100-22

(11)

Oh This Is Us¹⁰⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 106| C| D

28/1

Tremendous servant who has 13 wins to his name and is still capable of making a bold show at this level when in the mood. Beaten just one length when fourth last time at Newcastle in February and is no forlorn hope.

Form: 9139-54

(2)

Prince Eiji²³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian

6/1

Won 7f Ascot maiden on debut in 2018 but just four runs without success since then, although has run creditably all starts including when third in Group 3 here over 9f last autumn. Yet to race on ground as quick as this.

Form: 135/43-

(6)

Vale Of Kent²⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 108| C| D

6/1

Useful handicapper at 7f and 1m but may find this a tough ask on his first start for 279 days. 3-9 on AW though so a good display is not at all out of the question.

Form: 810224-

Non-Runners

(3)

Century Dream¹⁹⁰

Weight: 9-7| Age: 6

T: S & E Crisford J: James Doyle

(1)

Sangarius³⁵¹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: Sir Michael Stoute J: R L Moore

Forecasts

Sangarius (15/8), Mythical Magic (7/2), Momkin (11/2), Lord Tennyson (6/1), Vale Of Kent (6/1), Prince Eiji (6/1), Dawaam (8/1), Escobar (12/1), Century Dream (12/1), Marie's Diamond (14/1), Bless Him (25/1), Oh This Is Us (28/1)

A fine renewal of this race with so many decent horses keen to get a run ahead of the summer campaign. 2018 winner Century Dream has to be feared as too does Sangarius who did it well when winning at Royal Ascot last season but hasn't been seen since. He drops back in trip and may find the unexposed pair of DAWAAM and Lord Tennyson just a shade quick for him this time. Preference is narrowly for the former who has shaped like a potentially exciting prospect but this is a race in which the market could very well tell is own story.