14:15 Newbury

Friday 16 April 2021

All13:1013:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:05

Compton Beauchamp Estates Ltd Silver Bar Handicap

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 3m 33.67s

(1)

Lucky Deal¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁵⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 102| D

16/1

Useful gelding. Kicked off 2021 with 2m Kempton win and not disgraced when last of 3 to Ranch Hand in conditions event at Chelmsford City 20 days ago. Shortlisted.

Form: 61-1533

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(9)

Solo Saxophone^v¹¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: P Mulrennan| T: B Haslam| OR: 98| BF| D

20/1

Four-time winner last season who signed off with good third in 2m Newcastle handicap in December. Goes well fresh, so he's not dismissed on his return.

Form: 396213-

(5)

Australis¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Ray Dawson⁽³⁾| T: R Varian| OR: 97| D

20/1

Useful stayer who landed odds in 2m Wolverhampton handicap before run best ignored (badly hampered 2f out) at Lingfield fortnight ago. Solid claims.

Form: 1022-17

(4)

Almighwar²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 99

6/4

Low-mileage 4-y-o who scored twice over 1m4f at Kempton last summer before returning with excellent second in 1m3f handicap there on his return. Interesting proposition now stepped up to 2m.

Form: 0/114-2

(3)

Koeman³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M R Channon| OR: 95| C

33/1

Scored at Wolverhampton in December but arrives on back of modest fourth at Kempton last time. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 6915-44

(14)

Hochfeld¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Connor Beasley| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 95

14/1

Back to form with a bang when landing 1m6f Glorious Goodwood handicap last summer. Mixed record since, however, but ran well on reappearance when third at Musselburgh 13 days ago. In the mix.

Form: 37436-3

(11)

Rochester House⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 94| D

25/1

Dual 2m winner last winter but he beat only one at Kempton in January. Sort to bounce back after a break.

Form: 8114-40

(12)

Coeur de Lion^p¹¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽³⁾| T: A King| OR: 94| D

20/1

Likeable stayer who has hit the frame in a host of staying handicaps and gained a notable victory in the Ascot Stakes (2½m) last June. Not discounted after a stint over hurdles.

Form: 30/5190-

(7)

Imperium¹²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Watson| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 91| D

7/1

Low-mileage 5-y-o who racked up his fourth handicap win in good style at Kempton in December. Up another 3 lb but still weighted to have a big say back on turf.

Form: 12/1311-

(10)

Elysian Flame^p²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 91| D

25/1

Useful stayer who arrives in winning form over hurdles. Cheekpieces on for first time in this sphere (on when winning over jumps) so he's no forlorn hope.

Form: 86132/3-

(13)

Charlie D^p,t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 90| D

40/1

Fairly useful stayer who got back on track when second of 5 in 2m handicap at Newcastle 9 days ago. Bit more needed here though.

Form: 59-5692

(2)

Cleonte^p³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 90| D

17/2

Ended long losing run in 2m handicap at Kempton last month, suited by emphasis on stamina. Remains on a handy mark despite a 3 lb rise, so he's not taken lightly back on turf.

Form: 865-521

(8)

Author's Dream^v¹⁸⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: Callum Shepherd| T: W J Knight| OR: 86| D

33/1

Dual winner last season but well held off career-high mark in Cesarewitch at Newmarket in October. Has won off a break before and he's not to be underestimated on his reappearance.

Form: 415510-

(6)

Dancing Harry¹⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: Hollie Doyle| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 84| C

6/1

Consistent staying handicapper who posted several good efforts in 2020. Course winner and by no means discounted on his return.

Form: 452326-

Forecasts

Almighwar (6/4), Dancing Harry (6/1), Imperium (7/1), Cleonte (17/2), Hochfeld (14/1), Lucky Deal (16/1), Coeur de Lion (20/1), Solo Saxophone (20/1), Australis (20/1), Elysian Flame (25/1), Rochester House (25/1), Author's Dream (33/1), Koeman (33/1), Charlie D (40/1)

An ultra-competitive handicap in which the progressive IMPERIUM is fancied to translate his fine AW form onto turf and record win number five of his burgeoning career. John Gosden's lightly-raced Almighwar rates a serious threat though now he steps up to 2m for the first time, with Australis and Cleonte both worth a second look too in a cracking contest.