17:20 Newmarket

Friday 23 September 2022

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

Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Handicap

Off time: 17:23 | Winning time: 1m 52.59s

(4)

Value Theory⁶^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 10-1| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 90| C

5/2

Resumed winning ways at Ripon last month and followed up in good style off 3 lb higher over 1¼m here (good to firm) 6 days ago. 1 lb 'well in' under a penalty and likely to give it a good shot, for all that this is a more competitive race.

Form: 533511

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(9)

Leuven Power^p1³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 92

15/2

Clear-cut winner of a 1m Salisbury handicap last month but failed to make an impact under a penalty at York 9 days later and new mark has now kicked in (effectively 5 lb higher than that off which he was competing at York). Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 32-1410

(10)

Colour Image^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: D Tudhope| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 87

11/1

Got off the mark in handicaps when taking a 4-runner event at Bath in June, bumped last ½f and just holding on. By no means disgraced in a minor event at Ascot (1m, good) last time but his profile is rather patchy and others look stronger here.

Form: 00-6163

(2)

United Front²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Frederick Larson⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 87

11/1

Enhanced fine AW strike rate during the winter, winning pair of handicaps in December prior to good third in the Lincoln Trial in March. Record stands at 0-12 on turf, but his mark reflects that and he'll be dangerous if, as expected, they go a good gallop here.

Form: 323054

(6)

Turntable⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Kaiya Fraser⁽⁷⁾| T: C F Wall| OR: 86| CD

11/1

Good record at Newmarket (form figures on the July Course/Rowley Mile combined read 1412125) and was nicely on top at the finish when landing this race last year. 5 lb higher this time round, though, and needs to bounce back from a below-par effort when last seen in June.

Form: 061-205

(3)

Stormy Ocean¹⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 90| BF

2/1

All-the-way winner of a Newcastle novice in January and shaped better than the result when third on handicap debut at Wolverhampton (8.6f) in March, unable to overcome poor draw. Remains with potential and bold show likely if fully tuned-up for this assignment.

Form: 34-13

(5)

Absolute Ruler^t³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: J Candlish| OR: 90

80/1

Initial promise he showed for Donnacha O'Brien as a 2-y-o now seems like a long time ago following a couple of lacklustre performances in handicaps for new connections.

Form: 30-6770

(7)

Coase^h³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: N Callan| T: M Wigham| OR: 80| C

9/1

Has largely acquitted himself well since narrowly landing a 10-runner 1m handicap here off a 1 lb higher mark in April. Easy to forgive this 5-y-o for a rare below-par effort at Sandown last time and he's not without each-way hope.

Form: 237750

(8)

Cu Chulainn^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: David Egan| T: B J Meehan| OR: 77

22/1

Appeared to be back on the right track when scoring on the AW at Lingfield in June, but has since retreated back into his shell and it's probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: 571777

Non-Runners

(11)

The City's Phantom⁵⁵

Weight: 9-12| Age: 5

T: R Spencer J: Hollie Doyle

(1)

Fast Medicine⁷

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: P W Chapple-Hyam J: Callum Hutchinson

Forecasts

Stormy Ocean (2/1), Value Theory (5/2), Leuven Power (15/2), Coase (9/1), Turntable (11/1), Colour Image (11/1), United Front (11/1), The City's Phantom (16/1), Cu Chulainn (22/1), Fast Medicine (25/1), Absolute Ruler (80/1)

There is almost certainly better to come from the well-bred and unexposed STORMY OCEAN, who did well under the circumstances when a close third on his handicap debut at at Wolverhampton during the spring. He will prove hard to beat provided all is well following a 6-month break. The hat-trick seeking Value Theory needs considering but United Front, who was unsuited by the steady gallop at Ascot last time, is feared most. Coase is also worth a second look.