14:25 Newmarket

Tuesday 18 April 2023

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

National Stud Handicap

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 1m 28.75s

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Selected odds by:

(9)

New Kingdom^p⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 105| D

4/1

Doncaster winner over this trip and again found plenty for pressure for latest success at Meydan (1m) in February, better than ever in the process. 4 lb perfectly fair and sure to be well prepared for this return from a break.

Form: 3010-31

(5)

Tacarib Bay^b¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: R L Moore| T: R Hannon| OR: 104| D

11/2

Well-made colt who developed into a smart sort last year, third in Balmoral Handicap at Ascot prior to respectable third at Lingfield (1m) on final start in November. Ran right up to form on last month's return to action at Wolverhampton and shaped better than end result in listed company latest.

Form: 2533-53

(2)

Vafortino²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Benoit D L Sayette⁽³⁾| T: K P De Foy| OR: 103| D

5/1

Lightly raced in recent season but progressive when he does run, winning brace of handicaps at up to 1m last season and returned in top form when third at Kempton 3 weeks ago. Same mark,

Form: 21001-3

(6)

Spirit Of Light^t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: Ian Williams| OR: 101| D

15/2

Yet to get off the mark for this yard but following a spell in Meydan he found only one too good at Musselburgh 10 days ago. This is a deeper handicap, though.

Form: 526052

(3)

Al Rufaa²⁰⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Callum Shepherd| T: C Fellowes| OR: 95| D

25/1

Lightly raced and attitude seemed to ger the better of him when trained by John Gosden. Changed hands for £50,000 and well weighted if new stable can find the key to him. Hood omitted.

Form: 208429-

(1)

Juan Les Pins^p,h²¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Tom Marquand| T: M Appleby| OR: 93| D

33/1

Continued his resurgence last summer for his current yard, readily completing a four-timer at Doncaster in August. Excellent third in the Ayr Gold Cup final outing and he stays 7f well. Headgear back on for reappearance.

Form: 111173-

(7)

Rebel Territory¹⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Jim Crowley| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 93| C

7/2

Picked up where he left off as 3 yrs when a reappearance winner over 1m at Sandown in May. Didn't kick on as quite expected after but he's back on that last winning mark and a first go at 7f could be a good move. Big player.

Form: 1/16465-

(4)

Final Watch¹⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: W Stone| OR: 89| CD

7/1

Career best when winning 15-runner handicap at Ascot at the end of September and easy enough to excuses brace of defeats later in the autumn given how each race unfolded. Capable of getting involved from current mark if fully wound up.

Form: 2/66108-

(8)

Hodler²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J R Boyle| OR: 85| D

8/1

Progressive form as a 3-y-o, winning 3 times over 7f. Race wasn't run to suit and he probably needed it anyway at Lingfield 3 weeks so better expected her, for all this is a step up in class.

Form: 13122-7

Forecasts

Rebel Territory (7/2), New Kingdom (4/1), Vafortino (5/1), Tacarib Bay (11/2), Final Watch (7/1), Spirit Of Light (15/2), Hodler (8/1), Al Rufaa (25/1), Juan Les Pins (33/1)

REBEL TERRITORY didn't progress as quite expected last season but as a result he's back on the mark in which he made a successful reappearance last season and given how he travels a first crack at 7f could be beneficial. New Kingdom was better than ever when successful at Meydan and is sure to be popular, with Juan Les Pins another to consider.