15:00 Newmarket

Thursday 20 April 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

Connaught Access Flooring Abernant Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 1m 15.11s

(2)

Commanche Falls^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 111| D

20/1

Game sort who enjoyed another cracking season last year, landing the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood for second year running then filling the places on his next 3 starts. However, even allowing for the fact that he probably needed the run, his reappearance effort at Doncaster was disappointing.

Form: 12235-7

(4)

Creative Force¹⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 117| CD

8/13

Winner of the 2021 Champions Sprint at Ascot and third of 18 in last season's renewal of that race, one of 4 solid efforts he produced in top sprints last year. 3-3 over this C&D and very much the one to beat eased in class for this seasonal reappearance.

Form: 1/02433-

(5)

Garrus⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: R L Moore| T: C Hills| OR: 113| D

9/1

Bagged a Group 3 sprint at Deauville last summer before finishing a fine third in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at the same course. Just touched off in this race 12 months ago and, with his run in Saudi Arabia in February likely to have blown away the cobwebs, another bold show could be on the way.

Form: 40130-8

(6)

Jumby¹⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 110| CD

15/2

Likeable type who gained a fifth career success in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury in August. Failed to land a meaningful blow on his final 3 starts of 2022 but acquitted himself well when third on his reappearance in this race last term and he's an each-way player.

Form: 301965-

(9)

Saint Lawrence²⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 103

40/1

Winless since 2020 and while he performed well on a couple of occasions during a truncated campaign last season, this is a big ask following an 8-month absence (gelded in the interim).

Form: 3/36600-

(3)

Silky Wilkie¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 108| D

9/1

In good form on the AW during the winter and looked better than ever when storming clear of his rivals in the Scottish Sprint Cup at Musselburgh (5f, soft) recently. Much more on his plate now upped in class but dangerous to discount all the same. Yard also saddles Fast Response.

Form: 2-22181

(8)

Tiber Flow²⁰¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 106| D

8/1

Won 4 of his first 5 starts, including when edging out Ehraz in a 6f listed event at Newbury last spring. By no means discredited in Group company thereafter but a clear personal-best will be needed if he's to emerge on top here. Gelded.

Form: 121865-

Non-Runners

(7)

Ehraz¹⁹

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: R Hannon J: Jim Crowley

(1)

Fast Response¹⁹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: K R Burke J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Creative Force (8/13), Ehraz (5/1), Jumby (15/2), Tiber Flow (8/1), Garrus (9/1), Silky Wilkie (9/1), Fast Response (10/1), Commanche Falls (20/1), Saint Lawrence (40/1)

Provided he is fully tuned-up, CREATIVE FORCE will prove hard to beat for his powerful, in-form connections. The 5-y-o failed to add to his tally in 2022 but performed with plenty of credit in four of the hottest sprints of the season and this should serve as the perfect springboard for a return to Group 1 company soon enough. Garrus, who was only just denied in this race 12 months ago, is second choice ahead of Ehraz and Jumby.