15:20 Newbury

Sunday 18 April 2021

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

MansionBet Spring Cup Handicap (Str)

Off time: 15:24 | Winning time: 1m 37.14s

(14)

Raaeq¹⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Dane O'Neill| T: B J Meehan| OR: 107| BF| C| D

8/1

Progressive 3-y-o, landing handicaps at Sandown (1m) and Ascot (7f, stormed home by 5 lengths). Unable to make all in the Balmoral when last seen but can win more races in 2021.

Form: 21/2115-

(13)

Johan¹⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas| OR: 105| CD

11/1

Progressed into a smart 1m handicapper last year, winning 3 times, including on reappearance over C&D. Well held in AW listed event final start but could resume progress having been gelded.

Form: 140118-

(18)

Trais Fluors²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Charles Bishop| T: M R Channon| OR: 104| D

125/1

Very smart performer at best for Andre Fabre but not so good in Ireland in 2020 and it was a low-key start for another new yard at Doncaster 3 weeks ago. Makes a belated handicap debut.

Form: 34485-7

(9)

Oh This Is Us⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 102| D

22/1

Wins only occasionally these days but was unlucky not to add to his tally at Newmarket on Tuesday, going well when no room behind leaders 2f out. Same mark, but this is a deeper handicap.

Form: 183-992

(6)

Danyah^h²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 98| D

9/2

Progressed well at 3 yrs, winning at Doncaster and Haydock (1m), and shaped well after 6 months off in the Lincoln, going freely before flattening out. Same mark and big run could be forthcoming.

Form: 3/1331-4

(17)

History Writer²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: K Stott| T: D Menuisier| OR: 98| D

33/1

Big improver around 1m in 2019. Lightly raced and didn't fire in pattern events last year but caught the eye on his return in the Lincoln off this mark, headway when badly hampered final 1f.

Form: 31/509-0

(1)

Matthew Flinders¹⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: E Walker| OR: 97| D

7/2

Progressed well in his first season, winning twice at Doncaster. More to come from him in 2021 having been gelded and will be well suited by this scenario. Big player if ready to roll.

Form: 312D18-

(5)

Revich^v²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Angus Villiers⁽⁵⁾| T: R Spencer| OR: 96| D

33/1

Added to his good record at Chester with two more wins there (7f/7.5f) in August. Ran on without landing a blow in the Lincoln on his comeback under this rider and probably wants a lesser test.

Form: 51150-6

(7)

Power of Darkness²⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: D C Costello| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 96| D

25/1

Won a couple of 1m handicaps in 2019. Seen just twice last year, poorly placed and never involved in the Cambridgeshire final start, but remains the type who should be well suited by this scenario.

Form: 2711/70-

(16)

Bear Force One^p¹⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: J Mitchell| T: R A Teal| OR: 96| C| D

28/1

Back to winning ways in first-time cheekpieces at Newmarket (1m) last summer. Mark looks high enough judged on subsequent efforts and record suggests he might need this first run back in any case.

Form: 831306-

(2)

Nugget¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: R L Moore| T: R Hannon| OR: 92| D

4/1

Dual 1m handicap winner last summer with some strong form to his name and he shaped well on his recent return at Nottingham, denied a run more than once. Can build on that and one to note.

Form: 2/1221-3

(11)

Newbolt¹⁰⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Laura Pearson⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Beckett| OR: 91| BF| D

18/1

Won at Haydock and Southwell (1m) in 2020 and ran well at the latter track at the turn of the year. Good-value claimer booked for return to turf but suspect other 4-y-os here can improve past him.

Form: 70321-2

(12)

The Gill Brothers^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: David Egan| T: S C Williams| OR: 89| D

22/1

Lightly raced on turf and has caught the eye in a couple of AW runs in the last month, pulling hard and keeping on in messy Chelmsford race latest. Could relish this big-field scenario.

Form: 4296-43

(4)

Gin Palace¹⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Georgia Dobie⁽⁵⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 89| CD

14/1

Had another fine campaign in 2020, winning 1m handicaps here and at Newmarket (under this rider) early doors. 2-2 over C&D and interesting on return if he can find that bit extra.

Form: 102630-

(15)

HMS President¹⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 87| D

12/1

Successful on AW over this trip at 2 yrs and plenty of good runs in handicaps at up to 10f last term, going close here. Likely to resume winning ways before long but returns in a hot race.

Form: 432343-

(3)

National League^v¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Sean Davis| T: R A Fahey| OR: 85

40/1

Drew a blank in 2020 but has returned in good form with narrow defeats in 7f handicaps. This is clearly tougher, but he's unexposed over 1m and the yard has history in this race.

Form: 3327-32

Non-Runners

(8)

Troll Peninsula¹⁸

Weight: 8-5| Age: 4

T: R Varian J: Non Runner

(10)

Imperial Command⁴⁷

Weight: 8-5| Age: 4

T: D M Loughnane J: Elisha Whittington

Forecasts

Matthew Flinders (7/2), Nugget (4/1), Danyah (9/2), Troll Peninsula (9/2), Raaeq (8/1), Imperial Command (10/1), Johan (11/1), HMS President (12/1), Gin Palace (14/1), Newbolt (18/1), Oh This Is Us (22/1), The Gill Brothers (22/1), Power of Darkness (25/1), Bear Force One (28/1), Revich (33/1), History Writer (33/1), National League (40/1), Trais Fluors (125/1)

TROLL PENINSULA looks ahead of the handicapper after a deeply-impressive comeback win at Kempton under Andrea Atzeni and he can land this big pot on just his fourth start. Danyah made a pleasing return in the Lincoln and a mighty run could be forthcoming. Matthew Flinders and Nugget are a couple of other promising 4-y-os to note.