15:15 Newmarket

Saturday 26 June 2021

All13:0013:3514:0514:4015:1515:5016:25

Close Brothers Criterion Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 1m 22.95s

(6)

Duke Of Hazzard^b,t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: S W Kelly| T: P & O Cole| OR: 108| BF| C| D

14/1

Landed pair of pattern events over 1m at Goodwood in 2019. Placed twice at Group 2 level last year but yet to find his very best form in 3 outings this term.

Form: 285-743

(10)

Glorious Journey²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 110| C| D

9/2

Dual Group 2 winner over 7f and ran his usual sound race when 2¾ lengths third of 9 to Kinross at Haydock last time. 3 lb better off with that one now and likely to be in the shake-up.

Form: 513-343

(3)

Lord Of The Lodge¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: S H James| T: K R Burke| OR: 108| D

13/2

Smart colt. Career best when winning 14-runner handicap at Lingfield (7f, AW) in April and backed that up in Leopardstown Group 3 since. Ought to be competitive again.

Form: 4-32212

(2)

Motakhayyel⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Dane O'Neill| T: R Hannon| OR: 109| CD

10/3

Looked destined for pattern honours when defying a mark of 105 in Bunbury Cup over C&D last July. Subsequent efforts have been a little disappointing but soft ground may not have helped latest.

Form: 1176-20

(8)

Mums Tipple¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 112| D

16/1

Back on track with 7f Wolverhampton listed success in March. Just as good when second in 7f Leicester listed in April but not so good back sprinting at Salisbury latest.

Form: 8-61225

(5)

Royal Crusade⁹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: A Kirby| T: C Appleby| OR: 109| CD

11/2

Has contested only Group races since his C&D debut success in summer 2019. Landed a 6f Group 3 in France last July but only midfield in a couple of runs in Dubai in March.

Form: 22/61-67

(9)

Tinker Toy³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 97| D

10/1

Took record to 3-4 when posting a useful effort to land a 1m Newcastle handicap on last month's reappearance. Not certain to benefit from return to 7f but looks capable of making mark at higher level.

Form: 113-1

(1)

Apollo One³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: M Harley| T: P Charalambous| OR: 101| CD

11/1

Improved again to bag 7f listed event on Lingfield return. Not seen to best effect when fourth over 6f on AW Finals day but excuses harder to find on turf since. Has a bit to find now returning to 7f.

Form: 61-1448

(7)

The Lir Jet^t,v⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M L W Bell| OR: 107

13/2

Norfolk Stakes winner a year ago. Reappearance third in Greenham suggests he's trained on but he's been well held in Sandy Lane at Haydock and Commonwealth Cup at Ascot since.

Form: 257-307

Non-Runners

(4)

Kinross²⁸

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: R M Beckett J: Hollie Doyle

(11)

With Thanks²⁸

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: W J Haggas J: Tom Marquand

Forecasts

Kinross (5/2), Motakhayyel (10/3), Glorious Journey (9/2), Royal Crusade (11/2), The Lir Jet (13/2), Lord Of The Lodge (13/2), With Thanks (7/1), Tinker Toy (10/1), Apollo One (11/1), Duke Of Hazzard (14/1), Mums Tipple (16/1)

KINROSS proved well suited by the drop back to 7f when scoring at Haydock last time and this very talented son of Kingman might be capable of defying a 3 lb penalty. Glorious Journey was 2¾ lengths behind the selection in third at Haydock and this consistent sort should get a bit closer on the revised terms. Motakhayyel would also have a big part to play if recapturing his Bunbury Cup form.