14:15 Newmarket

Friday 24 July 2020

All12:0012:3513:1013:4014:1514:5015:2015:55

Discover Newmarket Home Of Horseracing Tours Handicap

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 1m 36.05s

(7)

Ambassadorial^e/s²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 92

5/1

Triple 7f AW winner who is 0-10 on turf. Went very close to breaking his duck on this surface when headed close home on the Rowley Mile (good to firm) last month. Up 2lb for that, but a similar effort would again make him tough to beat.

Form: 437202

(4)

Marronnier^t²⁹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: S M Levey| T: S C Williams| OR: 92

18/1

Triple winner from 7f-1m2f from his nine starts, two of them on fast ground. Up 6lb for winning a 0-90 at Epsom (heavy) when last seen 10-months ago, but if he returns in that form, then another success certainly can't be ruled out.

Form: 312541-

(1)

Cognac³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 93| D

10/3

Won a Musselburgh maiden (7f, good to soft) last August, and struck again on his handicap debut at Kempton (1m, AW) last month. Up 6lb, but progressing nicely and likely to be a strong contender if acting on fast ground.

Form: 312-1

(5)

Yes My Boy²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Adam J McNamara| T: A Watson| OR: 90| D

11/1

Won his first two starts (1m, Tapeta; 1m2f, Polytrack) in novices' company, and was perhaps too keen on his handicap debut at Yarmouth (1m, good to firm) last time, when 1¼L second. Up 2lb, so more needed, but certainly not ruled out.

Form: 112

(6)

He's A Keeper³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 89| D

22/1

Scored on his second juvenile start at Haydock (1m, soft) last August and wasn't disgraced in a Listed event back there next time. Respectable run at Newcastle last month was followed by a big defeat in the Britannia last time. More needed.

Form: 2164-40

(2)

Praxeology⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 88

33/1

Triple sprint winner last season, the best of those being at Chester (5f, good) in September, when on the same mark as today. Gelded prior to his reappearance, when well held at Haydock. Goes up in trip with a bit to prove.

Form: 40104-0

(3)

Nugget¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: R Hannon| OR: 87| BF| D

10/11

Reappeared last month with a win over Doncaster's straight mile and after being beaten over 1m2f on the Rowley course, he matched that winning effort in going down by a neck at Winsdor (1m, good to firm) last time. Big player from the same mark.

Form: 42-122

Forecasts

Nugget (10/11), Cognac (10/3), Ambassadorial (5/1), Yes My Boy (11/1), Marronnier (18/1), He's A Keeper (22/1), Praxeology (33/1)

This looks competitive despite the relatively small field. Nugget is in cracking form and will be difficult to peg back, and similar comments apply to topweight Ambassadorial. Neither Marronier nor Yes My Boy would be surprise winners, but preference is for COGNAC, who may be progressing at a faster rate than his opponents and is taken to defy a 6lb rise.