19:20 Newbury

Thursday 8 July 2021

All17:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:2020:50

Rayner Bosch Car Services Handicap

Off time: 19:20 | Winning time: 2m 12.77s

(1)

The First King^b⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Cieren Fallon| T: P & O Cole| OR: 85| D

20/1

Back in headgear but fared little better than on his reappearance when ninth at Chester back in May. Has had over 2 months off the track so hard to know what to expect here.

Form: 2/191-69

(2)

Fast Steps^p1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Callum Shepherd| T: R Hannon| OR: 84

11/2

Built on debut pomise to land minor event (8/1) at Epsom (8.5f, good) in April but lacked a change of gear upped in trip at Nottingham next time. Could feature in headgear now switched to handicaps.

Form: 2-13

(4)

Anmaat³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Dane O'Neill| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 83

15/8

Well-bred colt who confirmed debut promise when scoring something to spare at Lingfield in May. Matched that form on turf debut last month and he has leading claims now handicapping upped to 1¼m.

Form: 2-13

(3)

Badlands³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P Cosgrave| T: D Loughnane| OR: 81| C

7/2

Built on debut promise when landing 11-runner minor event at Newbury in May but seemed unsuited by the track at Brighton 18 days later. Can get back on track here for new yard making handicap debut.

Form: 314

(5)

Encourage¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: R Kingscote| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 78| BF

2/1

Shaped well all 3 starts as a juvenile, and ran just about his best race when runner-up in handicap at Newmarket (10f, good to firm) 12 days ago, coming from further back than ideal. May feature.

Form: 423-552

Non-Runners

(7)

Civil Law²⁷

Weight: 10-0| Age: 4

T: R A Teal J: Non Runner

(6)

Percy's Pride²¹

Weight: 8-12| Age: 3

T: W J Knight J: S W Kelly

Forecasts

Anmaat (15/8), Encourage (2/1), Badlands (7/2), Civil Law (7/2), Fast Steps (11/2), Percy's Pride (8/1), The First King (20/1)

Tough to completely rule any of these out but preference is for ANMAAT, who was doing his best work at the finish at Doncaster last month and should appreciate this step up to 1¼m now handicapping. The main danger could be Badlands, who seemed unsuited by the track at Brighton last time and should have more to offer for his new handler, ahead of Roger Charlton's Encourage.