17:05 Newbury

Saturday 18 September 2021

All13:1013:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:05

Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Handicap

Off time: 17:06 | Winning time: 2m 35.43s

(2)

Fox Vardy³⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: P J McDonald| T: M Meade| OR: 92| BF| D

12/1

Wide-margin winner of a handicap at Newmarket on return in June 2020. Emerged with credit when runner-up in this contest when last seen 12 months ago and he's not taken lightly if ready to roll.

Form: 9/13352-

(1)

Parachute²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 90| D

6/1

Won at Newmarket in May. Stepped up on that when third of 17 in very competitive King George Handicap at Royal Ascot but has failed to deliver on both starts since. Likely to find a few too good.

Form: 1-31360

(11)

Without Revenge^t²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 89

10/1

Newmarket winner in May and acquitted himself well at Royal Ascot. Got back on track in a first-time tongue strap when runner-up at Goodwood last month and should give another good account up 2 lb.

Form: 315472

(3)

Praiano¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 87| D

9/2

Improved again to make a winning start in handicaps at Leicester and then had nothing go his way in follow-up bid at Sandown. Runner-up in a messy race at Haydock since so not dismissed back at 1½m.

Form: 622142

(8)

Imperial Sun²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 86| D

11/1

Improved for 1½m when readily landing a Wolverhampton handicap in July. Stopped as though all wasn't well at York next time so it's hard to put much faith in him after that showing.

Form: 64-3310

(9)

Frontispiece²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Jim Crowley| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 77| CD

14/1

Edging down the weights and did fare better than of late when third in a slightly muddling affair at Newmarket. Confirmed himself back in some sort of form at Goodwood since so one to look out for.

Form: 497733

(12)

Tall Order¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: W Buick| T: M L W Bell| OR: 82| D

13/2

Gelded after two runs and didn't seem to handle the track at Windsor last month. However, put experience to good use when winning maiden at Haydock next time and he could feature on handicap debut.

Form: 4-221

(13)

Bague D'or²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: James Doyle| T: C F Wall| OR: 82| D

7/2

Easy winner on Yarmouth return and doubled his tally in ready fashion at Newmarket 3 weeks ago. He's a likeable type and should continue to give a good account with further improvement on the cards.

Form: 765-121

(7)

Winterwatch^h¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Joshua Bryan| T: A M Balding| OR: 78| D

10/1

Off the mark in a Catterick maiden in July and made a winning start in handicaps at Lingfield a month later. Not in same form having done plenty in front at Newcastle since so others appeal more.

Form: 32115

(5)

Duke Of Verona¹²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: David Probert| T: W Jarvis| OR: 77WS

14/1

Made winning debut in 1m2f Lingfield novice in January and not disgraced all 3 runs since, shaping encouragingly on just his second handicap start when third here (11f) in May. Has had a wind op.

Form: 1423

Non-Runners

(4)

Ridgeway²⁷

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: Eve Johnson Houghton J: Non Runner

(10)

Whitehaven⁴³

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: H Morrison J: Rob Hornby

(6)

In The Breeze⁵¹

Weight: 8-12| Age: 3

T: H & R Charlton J: Thomas Greatrex

Forecasts

Bague D'or (7/2), Praiano (9/2), Parachute (6/1), Tall Order (13/2), Whitehaven (7/1), Winterwatch (10/1), Without Revenge (10/1), Imperial Sun (11/1), Fox Vardy (12/1), Frontispiece (14/1), Duke Of Verona (14/1), In The Breeze (14/1), Ridgeway (25/1)

Plenty in with chances but BAGUE D'OR looks a 3-y-o firmly on the up and he's taken to notch his third victory of the year having seemingly been well suited by the step up in trip when scoring at Newmarket 3 weeks ago. Fox Vardy has presumably had his problems but he's feared most provided he's ready to roll after a year off the track, ahead of Whitehaven and Praiano.