15:10 Newbury

Friday 21 October 2022

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55

Gardner Mechanical Services Handicap

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 3m 0.81s

(4)

Frantastic^p⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 92| C

9/4

Brother to top-class Cracksman found some improvement when winning over 10f here in August. Respectable effort in stronger race at Ascot (12f) last time in this headgear and could have more offer upped further in trip.

Form: 31-6315

(7)

Juan Bermudez^t1²⁰³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 86

7/1

Defied long odds but showed a willing attitude when scoring in Newmarket novice last October. Well below that level when fourth in 6-runner minor event at Leicester in April and probably best watched now handicapping after another 6 months off.

Form: 81-4

(2)

Tathbeet^t²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: A J Farragher⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Haggas| OR: 83

11/2

Looked one to keep on right side of when scoring at Windsor in June but hasn't appeared particularly straightforward since, including with cheekpieces on last time. Mark is certainly workable, though. Goes up in trip.

Form: 41357

(6)

Caraghann¹²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D C Costello| T: Ian Williams| OR: 83

25/1

Placed twice in maidens for Francis-Henri Graffard but British handicapper seemingly hasn't taken any chances with him on UK debut.

Form: 0-3624

(5)

Beny Nahar Road⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: David Egan| T: R Hughes| OR: 81| BF

9/2

Runner-up on first 3 starts and again seemingly wasted a good opportunity when only third of 5 in maiden at Kempton (11f) 44 days ago. Mark looks on stiff side on handicap debut but more galloping track/return to turf/longer trip all factors that could see him do better.

Form: 2-223

(3)

Mostly Sunny^b1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Jason Watson| T: H Main| OR: 77

14/1

Winner at Leicester in June but struggled in much better contest at York (13.8f, good to soft) 14 days ago. Nudged down in weights and blinkers are applied, but others make more appeal.

Form: 331070

(1)

Jacovec Cavern²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: M R Channon| OR: 76

3/1

Winner at Ffos Las in August. 9/2, creditable effort when fourth of 9 in handicap at Redcar (14f, good to soft) 20 days ago. Slight step down in trip should benefit and he's not ruled out in this stronger grade.

Form: 331094

Forecasts

Frantastic (9/4), Jacovec Cavern (3/1), Beny Nahar Road (9/2), Tathbeet (11/2), Juan Bermudez (7/1), Mostly Sunny (14/1), Caraghann (25/1)

FRANTASTIC won here on his penultimate outing and held his own reasonably well in a tougher event at Ascot last time, so looks capable of giving weight all round to his opposition here. Beny Nahar Road has been expensive to follow so far but could find this test more suitable, whilst bottom-weight Jacovec Cavern is also interesting.