16:30 Newmarket

Thursday 23 September 2021

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Come And Discover Newmarket Handicap

Off time: 16:32 | Winning time: 1m 36.31s

(5)

Tadreeb²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Jim Crowley| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 87

6/1

Improvement appeared to have levelled off prior to landing a Haydock handicap (7f, firm) in ready fashion earlier this month. Nudged up just 2 lb and another bold show may well be on the way.

Form: 212341

(4)

Carolus Magnus¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 85| C

15/8

Off the mark at the second attempt in a 7f maiden here in April. Best effort yet when third in an 8-runner handicap at Sandown (1m, good to soft) recently and, now 1 lb lower, he's not without hope.

Form: 31263

(6)

Caribou¹⁶⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Hollie Doyle| T: D J Coakley| OR: 85

9/1

Winner of Goodwood novice and Newbury nursery (both at 6f on heavy going) at 2 yrs. Absent since encouraging reappearance at the latter track in April (gelded since), but he's interesting nonetheless.

Form: 2411-5

(7)

Bucephalus³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: C F Wall| OR: 78| BF| D

9/2

Made all at Pontefract in May and solid efforts in defeat on his next 2 starts. However, while he wasn't disgraced at Sandown last time, there were no obvious excuses and he now looks vulnerable.

Form: 5-51335

(1)

Shouldering^h,t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Spencer| T: D Menuisier| OR: 77

13/2

Sandown novice winner last season and has acquitted herself well in handicaps on the other course here and at Newcastle (in first-time hood) the last twice. However, this task calls for improvement.

Form: 1-55533

(3)

Gin Palace¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 76| D

10/1

Now 11 lb lower than for his latest success, which was over this C&D last June. However, his mark has dipped for good reason and there were no signs of a revival when tried in cheekpieces last time.

Form: 425059

(2)

Coul Kat⁶⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: B R Millman| OR: 77| D

10/1

Hit the target twice as a juvenile and opened 2021 account when bagging a 1m Sandown handicap in May. However, limitations seemingly exposed since and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 1-24155

(9)

Fashion Free^h²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: David Egan| T: M Appleby| OR: 65| D

22/1

Back in the winning groove when arriving late on the scene at Nottingham in August. Excuses since, but she's pretty exposed overall and others make greater appeal on this occasion.

Form: 624166

Non-Runners

(10)

Bake⁴⁹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: M Meade J: Tom Marquand

(8)

Eminent Hipster³³

Weight: 9-4| Age: 3

T: R Hannon J: R L Moore

Forecasts

Carolus Magnus (15/8), Bake (3/1), Bucephalus (9/2), Tadreeb (6/1), Shouldering (13/2), Caribou (9/1), Gin Palace (10/1), Coul Kat (10/1), Eminent Hipster (10/1), Fashion Free (22/1)

A 2 lb rise for TADREEB's recent Haydock success looks very fair indeed given that the runner-up has won since and the third went close at Kempton next time. Mark Johnston's charge appears to be back on an upward curve judged on that display and is marginally preferred to the progressive Bake, who is bidding for the hat-trick. Carolus Magnus and Caribou are others to consider.