15:00 Newmarket

Tuesday 18 April 2023

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

Close Brothers Handicap

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 1m 42.15s

(11)

Empirestateofmind^b¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 99| D

7/2

Better than ever in second half of 2022, winning 16-runner event at Thirsk (1m) and excellent runner-up efforts on final 2 starts of that campaign. Probably needed the run when seventh of 22 on return in the Lincoln and not without each-way hope here.

Form: 21222-7

(7)

Greatgadian^p1¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Aidan Keeley⁽⁵⁾| T: R Varian| OR: 98| D

11/1

Useful handicapper who has been in decent form on AW this winter and was by no means disgraced returned to turf when sixth in the Lincoln. Subsequently eased 2 lb (now back to last winning mark) and sports first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 245-436

(8)

Unforgotten^b³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 97| BF| D

13/2

Low-mileage 5-y-o who has looked better than ever following a lengthy absence this winter, landing back-to-back 1m Lingfield handicaps in February and did little wrong when finding only another in-form rival too good at Wolverhampton last time (Outbreak back in fourth). Turf debut.

Form: 221/112

(9)

Bopedro¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97| D

11/1

Irish Cambridgeshire winner in 2021 and it didn't take him long to find his feet for this new yard in the second half of last season. Positive enough start this time round when eighth in the Lincoln but others make more appeal for win purposes here.

Form: 48302-8

(10)

Heat Of The Moment²¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: A Kirby| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 95

50/1

Half-sister to several winners and promising start to her career when landing a 6f Yarmouth novice on sole 2-y-o start. Pitched into pattern company for her 3 starts last season and the market will likely be informative ahead of this return/handicap bow.

Form: 1/607-

(13)

Point Lynas^h³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 93| C| D

18/1

First past the post on 2 occasions last season and produced a career-best when making all on return at Newcastle (1m) last month. 3 lb rise should be manageable but this is a tougher assignment and he'd probably prefer quicker ground.

Form: 03110-1

(2)

Toshizou¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Jonny Peate⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 93

18/1

Possibly not the easiest to train (never had more than 3 outings in a season) but he did quickly develop into a very useful handicapper for Joseph O'Brien in Ireland. However, rather low-key start for new yard in the Lincoln and now has a bit to prove.

Form: 440/25-0

(14)

Outbreak¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: C Johnston| OR: 92| BF| D

7/1

Missed majority of 2022 but, having been gelded, he's done pretty well on the AW since returning to action in February. Drop back in trip here will help following a good effort over 1¼m at Lingfield and likely to be on the premises if coping with conditions.

Form: 2/6-5143

(5)

Raising Sand^p¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 8-13| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 90| D

20/1

Dual 1m winner at at Newcastle and Ascot last autumn and performed well above market expectations (sent off at 50/1) when fourth in the 22-runner Spring Mile at Doncaster won by Harswell Duke. Each-way shout.

Form: 1198-64

(6)

Dutch Decoy¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 88| D

28/1

Five-time 7f/1m winner in 2022 (including twice on the July course here) but he was never in the hunt in the Spring Mile on his seasonal reappearance and yard saddles a more appealing candidate in Outbreak.

Form: 13007-0

(1)

Ashky¹⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: W Buick| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 87| CD

10/1

Successful 3 times last season, twice on the July course then over this C&D in September. Solid third back here off this mark on final start of 2022 and should be in the mix with William Buick aboard (Buick is 2-2 on this filly) if ready to roll following 6 months off.

Form: 311313-

(3)

Harswell Duke¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Connor Beasley| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 86| D

6/1

Won over 1m at Leicester and Nottingham in October and produced just about his best effort yet when accounting for 21 rivals in the Spring Mile at Doncaster. 3 lb rise certainly isn't the end of the world and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 4113-81

(4)

Bucephalus¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: Rose Dawes⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 81| D

5/1

Looked on good terms with himself when making a winning debut for this yard back from over a year off in a 1¼m Doncaster handicap 16 days ago. 4 lb rise tolerable and likely to give it a good shot back down in trip here, particularly if the ground remains on the slow side.

Form: 33522/1

Non-Runners

(12)

First Folio²⁰

Weight: 9-9| Age: 5

T: J Ferguson J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Empirestateofmind (7/2), Bucephalus (5/1), Harswell Duke (6/1), Unforgotten (13/2), Outbreak (7/1), Ashky (10/1), Bopedro (11/1), Greatgadian (11/1), First Folio (16/1), Toshizou (18/1), Point Lynas (18/1), Raising Sand (20/1), Dutch Decoy (28/1), Heat Of The Moment (50/1)

The Johnston yard saddled the winner of this in 2021 and may well repeat the dose with OUTBREAK, who wasn't far behind Unforgotten when fourth at Wolverhampton last month, despite a poor start. The 4-y-o subsequently performed with credit at Lingfield and will have every chance back on turf, provided he goes on the ground. Recent Doncaster winner Bucephalus and Ashky are among the big dangers.