17:25 Newmarket

Sunday 7 May 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:25

Howden Bloodstock Handicap

Off time: 17:25 | Winning time: 2m 6.94s

(3)

High Honour^p,t1¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 87

14/1

Expensive purchase who got off the mark at the second attempt in a Goodwood maiden (1m, good to soft) last year. Well held on handicap debut over C&D on return and still looks bit high in weights. Tongue strap added.

Form: 513-8

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(7)

Lion Of War²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: C Johnston| OR: 87

11/4

Ready winner of a 7f Leicester maiden on debut and followed up in impressive fashion at Newcastle in June. Creditable effort when third of 9 in handicap at Musselburgh (8f, good to soft) 29 days ago on return and looks ready for this step up in trip, so is shortlisted.

Form: 11553-3

(2)

Royal Rhyme^t⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 85| BF

4/1

Overcame inexperience to make a winning debut at Thirsk on sole start at 2 yrs. Hasn't kicked on quite as well as anticipated this term, but the form of his recent third at Haydock (8f, good to firm) entitles him to be in the mix up in trip.

Form: 1-43

(1)

Cool Party¹⁹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: James Doyle| T: C Johnston| OR: 84

13/2

Landed short odds in 4-runner maiden at Epsom on his second start at 2 yrs before following up in comfortable fashion at Wolverhampton next time. Off since October but he has all the makings of a useful middle-distance prospect and he's highly respected on handicap bow.

Form: 211-

(5)

Rathgar²¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J Channon| OR: 83

9/4

Progressed from run to run at 2 yrs, getting off the mark at the third attempt in novice at Goodwood 7 months ago. Remains open to improvement and no surprise to see him figure on handicap debut.

Form: 631-

(6)

My Lion^h³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Cieren Fallon| T: A M Balding| OR: 82

6/1

Confirmed debut promise when winning 10-runner novice event at Windsor on the second of 2 starts in her juvenile year. Progressed further when runner-up in similar race at Kempton last month, quickening up well before being collared late. Likely to improve further now handicapping.

Form: 41-2

Non-Runners

(4)

Mindset²⁰⁰

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: M L W Bell J: R L Moore

Forecasts

Rathgar (9/4), Lion Of War (11/4), Royal Rhyme (4/1), Mindset (4/1), My Lion (6/1), Cool Party (13/2), High Honour (14/1)

A typically hot event for the track, but COOL PARTY stands out as being particularly interesting, having plenty in hand when scoring at Wolverhampton on his final start last term and seeming certain to appreciate the step up in trip. Lion of War ran well at Musselburgh last time and is another who should prove better-suited by middle distances, with Royal Rhyme getting slight preference of the remainder.