14:25 Newbury

Saturday 17 July 2021

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:4016:1016:4517:20

Bahrain Turf Series Handicap

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 3m 33.94s

(8)

Mildenberger¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: B A Curtis| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 106| BF| C| D

11/1

Smart horse who kicked off 2021 with Wolverhampton victory before running creditably in a Saudi Arabian handicap and Northumberland Plate. Was a bit disappointing at Sandown last time, though.

Form: 85-1653

(1)

Global Heat^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: H Crouch| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 105

33/1

Useful sort who failed to stay when pulled up in Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot (21.6f) last time. Back down in trip.

Form: 3-1326P

(6)

Withhold^p¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 105| CD

16/1

Smart front-running stayer who won this corresponding race in 2019, but below form both starts this season, folding tamely at Sandown last time.

Form: 1622-84

(10)

Sleeping Lion³²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: W Buick| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 101| C| D

12/1

Gelded and returned with improved effort on first run for new yard to land 2m Kempton handicap in April. Had a hopeless task from his position at Roya Ascot 10 weeks later.

Form: 7238-10

(5)

Lucky Deal^v1²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 98| D

33/1

Not disgraced when thirteenth of 20 in Northumberland Plate at Newcastle (16.2f, 66/1) 21 days ago, though carried no win threat. Visor on for 1st time.

Form: 336000

(3)

Zeeband^v1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: R Varian| OR: 96| D

7/2

Upwardly mobile in staying handicaps last summer, winning twice, and stepped up on his reappearance with victory in 19-runner Northumberland Vase at Newcastle 3 weeks ago. Open to further progress.

Form: 3112-31

(12)

Mancini^b1²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 91| D

18/1

Useful stayer who is in better heart than his performances so far this season suggest. Blinkers on for 1st time.

Form: 130-009

(7)

Just Hubert^p1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Tom Marquand| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 90| D

8/1

Useful stayer who returned with a good third at Haydock in May. Not seen to best effect both starts since and looks interesting in first-time headgear with Tom Marquand back in the saddle.

Form: 820-300

(4)

Rodrigo Diaz¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 90| BF

11/4

Completed a hat-trick in 2020 and has carried on his progression this term, resuming winning days at Doncaster in June. Not seen to best effect at Kempton last time and this new trip worth exploring.

Form: 111-213

(9)

Margaret Dumont²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: David Probert| T: H Palmer| OR: 89

22/1

Camelot filly who opened account for present stable at Chelmsford (13.3f) in April and unlucky to bump into improvers the last twice, including Zeelander at Newcastle (16.2f) 3 weeks ago.

Form: 321422

(11)

Indianapolis^p⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: David Egan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 88

16/1

Easily best effort this season when fourth of 9 in handicap at 14.2f handicap at Ascot (good) last week, though was suited by the way the race developed.

Form: 00-9064

(13)

Scaramanga⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: S De Sousa| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 86| BF| CD

13/2

Useful hurdler who ran well in a few Flat handicaps last summer. In good nick back hurdling in the spring, successful here and at Sandown, so shouldn't be taken lightly now returning to this code.

Form: 22/4325-

Non-Runners

(2)

Call My Bluff²¹

Weight: 8-1| Age: 4

T: D J S Ffrench Davis J: S De Sousa

Forecasts

Rodrigo Diaz (11/4), Zeeband (7/2), Scaramanga (13/2), Just Hubert (8/1), Mildenberger (11/1), Sleeping Lion (12/1), Call My Bluff (12/1), Withhold (16/1), Indianapolis (16/1), Mancini (18/1), Margaret Dumont (22/1), Lucky Deal (33/1), Global Heat (33/1)

ZEEBAND deserved plenty of credit for scoring in clear-cut fashion in a race that was muddling at Newcastle 3 weeks ago, so is fancied to land another valuable prize with further improvement on the cards. Rodrigo Diaz should be just as effective over this new trip and is still one to be interested in, with Just Hubert worth a second look in first-time headgear reunited with Tom Marquand.