15:00 Newmarket

Saturday 14 May 2022

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Birketts LLP Handicap

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 1m 24.46s

(10)

Humanitarian^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: S M Levey| T: S C Williams| OR: 105

80/1

Smart on his day for John Gosden but seen out only twice since September 2020 and recent debut for this stable was underwhelming.

Form: 1771/0-7

(1)

Pensiero D'Amore^h1²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Stefano Cherchi⁽³⁾| T: M Botti| OR: 103| D

66/1

Winner at Kempton in March, but that's very much a standout effort this term, last at the same course on his latest outing. Needs a hood to have a positive effect.

Form: 40-0018

(8)

Shine So Bright^h¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Harry Davies⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 102| CD

5/1

Smart type who, with a hood on for the first time, returned to something like his best to land a C&D event with something to spare on reappearance.

Form: 44440-1

(2)

Bullace²²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 102| C| D

14/1

Smart colt who wasn't at his best when last seen but scored at this track on last season's reappearance, so merits respect back from 7 months off.

Form: 1/13066-

(5)

Quintillus⁹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 99| D

4/1

Unreliable sort who ran poorly at Meydan on latest outing 3 months ago. Still relatively lightly raced, though, and can make his mark if he settles.

Form: 1/4831-9

(11)

San Isidro^h1²⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: A Kirby| T: J Ferguson| OR: 99

40/1

Useful performer in France and picked up by current connections for 60,000 gns in October. Can't be completely dismissed debuting for a shrewd stable after 8 months off.

Form: 48/7157-

(12)

Saleymm^t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J Mitchell| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 98| BF| D

5/2

Son of Dubawi who took his form up another notch when second of 22 in Lincoln at Doncaster on his reappearance. Found little at Newbury next time, but not great surprise if he gets back on the up.

Form: 8411-28

(7)

Wizard D'Amour¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: J Fanning| T: K R Burke| OR: 87| BF| D

3/1

Likeable type who was back on the up with a cosy success at Catterick in April and ran with credit when second to Shine So Bright over C&D since. Could turn the tables on that rival.

Form: 22-2312

(6)

Free Solo¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Saffie Osborne⁽³⁾| T: J A Osborne| OR: 87

100/1

Useful in Ireland, although 12 runs since sole win in 2019. Disappointing start for current yard when last at Windsor 12 days ago, leaving him with something to prove.

Form: 42095-5

(4)

Natural Path^p1,t⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: David Egan| T: M L W Bell| OR: 86| D

11/1

Useful 5yo who has been performing respectably in Bahrain so far this year. Scored from a 2-lb lower mark last season, so he's not without hope back from a short break,

Form: 150-754

(3)

Melody Of Life³⁰⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: R Ffrench| T: A M Balding| OR: 83| D

25/1

Dual winner at 3 but hasn't been seen since a tame run at Ascot 10 months ago. Market could be informative.

Form: 633217-

Non-Runners

(9)

Top Secret²²⁵

Weight: 8-5| Age: 5

T: W Muir & C Grassick J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Saleymm (5/2), Wizard D'Amour (3/1), Quintillus (4/1), Shine So Bright (5/1), Natural Path (11/1), Bullace (14/1), Melody Of Life (25/1), San Isidro (40/1), Pensiero D'Amore (66/1), Humanitarian (80/1), Free Solo (100/1)

WIZARD D'AMOUR couldn't live with Shine So Bright over C&D on reappearance but he is better off at the weights and more consistent than that rival, so he's fancied to reverse the form and get back to winning ways. Bullace could put his best foot forward returning to this course after 7 months off.