16:40 Newbury

Thursday 10 June 2021

All13:1513:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:10

Read Ryan Moore On Betting.Betfair Handicap

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 2m 32.17s

(6)

Zikany¹⁰^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 71

1/1

Big improver switched to handicaps the last twice, going close at Lingfield (1¼m, AW) prior to a decisive success upped to 11.4f at Windsor. 2 lb 'well in' under a penalty and further progress likely.

Form: 84-721

(8)

Valparaiso¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: D C Costello| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 75| D

4/1

Gelded prior to leading close home upped to 1½m on Doncaster handicap debut in April. Good third at Newmarket since, despite steady pace/track counting against him, and he remains open to improvement.

Form: 0-6413

(2)

Last Light^v1²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 74

25/1

Showed ability when runner-up on second of his starts at 2 yrs. However, no further progress in a couple of runs this season and big step forward needed now handicapping in a first-time visor.

Form: 62-44

(1)

Beautiful Crown²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: K Shoemark| T: B R Johnson| OR: 74

14/1

Went close in a Kempton novice in March prior to again finding just one too good on handicap bow at Lingfield (1¼m, AW). Failed to build on that switched to turf at Salisbury last time, though.

Form: 95-3225

(4)

Glide Down⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: M Harley| T: A King| OR: 74

10/1

Runner-up on 2 of his 3 starts in 2020 and caught the eye when third upped to 1¼m on return at Lingfield (AW) in April. Failed to shine on handicap bow there next time, but he's worth another chance.

Form: 272-34

(3)

Reina Del Mar²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: E Walker| OR: 73

7/1

Improved when a strong-finishing second in a Salisbury novice (1¼m, soft) last month. That form probably doesn't amount to much, but she may have more to offer upped in trip on this handicap debut.

Form: 9-62

(7)

Scampi²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 70

7/1

Fair form in maidens at 2 yrs, but he hasn't kicked on in a couple of outings so far this season, beaten 13 lengths into fifth on handicap bow over 11f here last time.

Form: 53-55

(5)

Honours⁸⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: H J L Dunlop| OR: 70

50/1

Took a step forward when runner-up at Kempton (1½m) in February, but failed to build on that next time and she's readily passed over now pitched into a handicap on turf.

Form: 0-527

Forecasts

Zikany (1/1), Valparaiso (4/1), Reina Del Mar (7/1), Scampi (7/1), Glide Down (10/1), Beautiful Crown (14/1), Last Light (25/1), Honours (50/1)

Ready preference is for ZIKANY, who is just the type that Sir Michael Stoute excels with and he did the job in the manner of a colt destined for better things at Windsor recently. Reina Del Mar promises to be suited by this stiffer test now venturing down the handicap route, but Valparaiso did well under the circumstances when third at Newmarket and he is second choice.