13:30 Newbury

Friday 19 May 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2016:5517:26

Starlight Apprentice Handicap (Str)

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 1m 38.13s

(13)

Flag Of Truth^b1¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Kaiya Fraser| T: A Watson| OR: 72

13/2

Well supported and ran his best race with first-time cheekpieces applied when runner-up in handicap at Newcastle (8f) 10 days ago, headed final 1f but sticking to his task. Blinkers the headgear of choice on this occasion.

Form: 673-02

(4)

Trais Fluors^p1¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Rose Dawes| T: J Channon| OR: 72| BF| D

11/1

One win from 32 Flat runs and ran poorly after 6 months off at Brighton (7f, good, 3/1) earlier this month. First-time cheekpieces need to spark a revival.

Form: 60500-9

(11)

Sandy Paradise^p¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Ethan Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 72| D

11/1

All 3 wins have been on the all-weather and he again ran well when finishing runner-up at Kempton (8f) just over a fortnight ago, edged out final 50 yds. Shouldn't be long in going one better.

Form: 413422

(12)

Taravara^v⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Adam Tracey⁽⁷⁾| T: S Pearce| OR: 71| D

28/1

Sole win from 22 Flat runs came at Southwell in December. However, he seems to be in a lull for now and hopes pinned on reapplied headgear doing the trick.

Form: 201-048

(7)

Rival^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Alec Voikhansky| T: J L Flint| OR: 69| D

8/1

Ran creditably when third on return at Windsor (8.1f, heavy) last month and took a small step forward when filling that same position at Bath (8f, soft) 8 days ago. Headgear tried for just a second time but probably needs more help from the assessor.

Form: 8146-33

(2)

Painless Potter^p1⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Millie Wonnacott| T: S Lycett| OR: 69| D

16/1

Sole success came at Chepstow (1m) in August but both outings this year have offered little encouragement. Mark continues to slide but others preferred.

Form: 1046-09

(3)

Lenny's Spirit^t,v¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: William Pyle⁽³⁾| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 67| D

7/2

Won 3 times last year and, after 5 months off, not discredited when fifth at Lingfield (1m, AW) last month. Wasn't seen to best effect back up in trip at Chelmsford just over a fortnight ago but needs considering back on turf in this larger-field scenario.

Form: 2556-55

(9)

Le Reveur^b²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Mohammed Tabti| T: M Murphy & M Keady| OR: 67| D

11/1

Now 6 lb below the mark off which he gained his latest success at Doncaster last June, but subsequent efforts merely underline his inconsistency and he will need to hit the ground running returning from 6 months off.

Form: 076067-

(10)

Mabre^b³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Olivia Tubb⁽⁵⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 67| BF| D

12/1

Latest win at Lingfield in March. Well backed but seemed amiss on return to turf at Nottingham (8.3f, heavy) just over 5 weeks ago and has good chance on form if none the worse.

Form: 071239

(6)

Newton Jack²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Joe Leavy⁽⁵⁾| T: W S Kittow| OR: 66| D

10/3

Made a winning return at Windsor last season and reappears from a mark 8 lb lower. Certainly not out of things.

Form: 977335-

(1)

Greg The Great¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Mia Nicholls⁽⁵⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 64| D

9/1

Won 3 times last year (twice at Chepstow) and shaped as if better for the run after 6 months off at Kempton (8f) just over a fortnight ago. Has dropped to his last winning mark but will need to take a big step forward.

Form: 11307-0

(5)

Runner Bean⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Alex Jary⁽³⁾| T: E De Giles| OR: 49

100/1

Excuses at Kempton last time (clipped heels and stumbled after 2f) but trip a big question mark and this his first outing on turf.

Form: 46/0847

Non-Runners

(8)

Calonne¹⁶

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: R Brisland J: Morgan Cole

Forecasts

Newton Jack (10/3), Lenny's Spirit (7/2), Calonne (6/1), Flag Of Truth (13/2), Rival (8/1), Greg The Great (9/1), Trais Fluors (11/1), Le Reveur (11/1), Sandy Paradise (11/1), Mabre (12/1), Painless Potter (16/1), Taravara (28/1), Runner Bean (100/1)

A tricky start to proceedings with the tentative vote going to LENNY'S SPIRIT, who wasn't seen to best effect at Chelmsford just over a fortnight ago and Ed Dunlop's charge is fancied to regain the winning thread with this larger-field scenario likely to be in his favour. Second choice is Sandy Paradise, who has hit the crossbar on his last couple of starts and may have to settle for silver once again, with Mabre and Flag of Truth rounding off the shortlist.