14:40 Newmarket

Saturday 1 August 2020

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:25

It's Not Rocket Science At MansionBet Handicap

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 1m 23.32s

(4)

Stone Circle³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Callum Shepherd| T: M L W Bell| OR: 89

14/1

Head winner of a valuable 26-runner sales race at the Curragh (6f, good) last September; arguably high enough in the weights as a result (is easing slightly); ran well, just failing to last home when fourth to Boccaccio (7f, Rowley Mile) latest.

Form: 419-084

(1)

Indian Creak²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M R Channon| OR: 88| D

8/1

Twice successful over this 7f trip as a juvenile, including when making all in a Class 4 nursery at Goodwood (good); staying on from the rear (seventh) at odds of 20-1 on Sandown seasonal reappearance; should strip fitter for that run.

Form: 41024-7

(6)

Baashir²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Dane O'Neill| T: C Hills| OR: 86| D

9/4

Lightly-raced Muhaarar colt; built upon a promising Haydock debut when making all to run out a ready winner of a divided Salisbury novice (7f, good to firm) three weeks ago; enters the reckoning with further improvement considered likely.

Form: 21

(2)

Karibana¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: W Buick| T: R Hughes| OR: 83| D

13/8

Struck at the sixth time of asking when pouncing late in a Class 5 Newbury handicap (7f, good) 13 days ago; has earned a 6lb rise for those exertions, but could feasibly find the step up in grade (into a Cl 3) too much.

Form: 332-421

(7)

Rodin¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: William Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 79| BF| D

11/2

Beat Wednesday's Thirsk winner Glen Force when notching at Lingfield (7f, good) on his penultimate start; was doing all of his best work in the closing stages (second) at Kempton latest; a tad vulnerable from a career high mark of 79?

Form: 221412

(5)

Stoweman³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: M Harley| T: C G Cox| OR: 78| D

12/1

Made all when winning a Chepstow novice (7f, good) last August; hasn't really shone since switched to handicapping, but does meet Rodin on much more favourable terms than at Lingfield (7f, good) and that will provide some hope for his connections.

Form: 2216-5

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to board prices only - deduction 5p in the pound

Non-Runners

(3)

Rosadora³⁰⁸

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: R M Beckett J: Andrea Atzeni

Forecasts

Karibana (13/8), Baashir (9/4), Rodin (11/2), Indian Creak (8/1), Rosadora (10/1), Stoweman (12/1), Stone Circle (14/1)

An interesting race which features a number of capable horses (winners as juveniles) pitched in against the likes of Karibana, Rodin and BAASHIR who have all shown more recent winning form (as 3yo's). Indian Creak shaped as if he'd fare better for the comeback run at Sandown, while the top-weighted Stone Circle arguably looks to be a more convincing proposition over 6f. Therefore, it is the Charles Hills-trained runner who gets the nod. His Muhaarar colt is evidently on a late developing upward curve, and seemingly has even better days ahead of him.