17:00 Newmarket

Thursday 18 June 2020

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 17:03 | Winning time: 2m 38.03s

(3)

Fantastic Blue²⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: I Mohammed & J Santos| OR: 82| D

6/1

Won on fast turf at Windsor and Leicester last year, and sunk in the mud on his final outing, Another who needs rain to stay away, but fairly treated if conditions are suitable.

Form: 621157-

(4)

Stamford Raffles¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Tim Clark| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 82| CD

18/1

Fairly useful on his day, and has won here, but out of sorts since beaten a neck by Matewan, and tailed off on his return from a break here earlier in the month.

Form: 58-2700

(5)

Matewan^p¹³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: A Kirby| T: Ian Williams| OR: 80| C| D

2/1

Reliable sort who has been first or second on his last six starts. Beat Stamford Raffles at Newcastle in January. Won on good/soft ground at Ripon in August, so won't mind if the going eases further.

Form: 122-221

(6)

Valentino Dancer³³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: L Morris| T: O Murphy| OR: 79

13/2

Has won twice over hurdles since finishing fourth at Kempton last spring, and although he's been absent 11 months since the latest of his jumps outings, he is an interesting contender back in this sphere.

Form: 6039/24-

(7)

Vision Clear¹³²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Callum Shepherd| T: G & J Moore| OR: 74| D

10/1

A winner over hurdles before his sole Flat start last year, when he was last of 4 at Kempton. Has since shown improved form over timber, finishing second in a handicap there in February. Claims if translating that back to the Flat here.

Form: 31548/4-

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 30p in the pound

Non-Runners

(1)

Fox Vardy²⁵¹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: M Meade J: H Crouch

(2)

Purdey's Gift¹⁴⁵

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: A M Balding J: Rob Hornby

Forecasts

Fox Vardy (15/8), Matewan (2/1), Purdey's Gift (5/1), Fantastic Blue (6/1), Valentino Dancer (13/2), Vision Clear (10/1), Stamford Raffles (18/1)

With rain forecast, MATEWAN looks the safest bet having shown his form on a range of going, and he's still fairly treated despite finishing first or second on his last half dozen outings. Vision Clear can go well if repeating the form he showed over hurdles last time, a remark which also applies to Valentino Dancer.