20:25 Newbury

Tuesday 27 June 2023

All17:3018:0518:4019:1519:5020:2521:00

Maurice Adams Memorial Handicap

Off time: 20:27 | Winning time: 1m 25.45s

(6)

Capote's Dream^p,t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: S M Levey| T: T Ward| OR: 76

9/2

Prolific in 2021 but failed to add to his tally in handicaps last year. However, he has made the frame on 3 of his 4 starts this time round, including over 6f here (firm) recently, and this step back up in trip may well work in his favour.

Form: 78-3403

(5)

Bastogne¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: Laura Coughlan⁽⁵⁾| T: D Faulkner| OR: 74

9/1

Yet to add to 2-y-o maiden success and while he resumed with a creditable third of 8 off this mark on debut for new yard at Chepstow (7f, good to firm), others make more appeal from a win point of view.

Form: 24/685-3

(10)

Secret Strength^p²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Luke Catton⁽⁵⁾| T: J R Boyle| OR: 73| D

12/1

Modest strike rate (2-29) but arrives here on the back of a couple of creditable efforts in defeat, most notably when fourth in a 12-runner Class 2 handicap at Epsom (7f, good to firm) last time. Needs considering back down in class off a 1 lb lower mark.

Form: 557744

(9)

Unsung Hero^t1¹⁹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Hollie Doyle| T: H Main| OR: 73| D

18/1

Back-to-back winner at Kempton last September but well held final 2 starts of 2022 and likely to need this following a 6-month absence. Tongue strap applied.

Form: 291107-

(4)

Lunar Space¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Nicola Currie| T: J A Osborne| OR: 72| D

50/1

Listed winner at the Curragh for Jim Bolger in April 2021 but hasn't shown anything like that level of form since. Hard to recommend, for all that he continues to fall down the weights and is dropping to 0-75 company for the first time.

Form: 00000-0

(8)

Night Arc²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Thomas Greatrex| T: R Hannon| OR: 71

22/1

Improved when landing a 1¼m Leicester handicap on the second of just 2 appearances last season. Below that level both starts since returning from a 12-month absence but likely to be closer to concert pitch now and this drop back in trip may not be a bad thing.

Form: 09/31-86

(11)

Plumette³³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: D C Costello| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 69| BF| D

50/1

Successful twice on the AW for David Loughnane since the turn of the year but well below par last time (albeit she was left poorly placed) and hasn't won on turf for over 4 years.

Form: 216338

(3)

King of The Dance¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 67

16/1

Low-mileage 4-y-o who stepped up on previous exploits when good second in a 1m Kempton handicap last August. Failed to build on that when reappearing over C&D recently but that run was probably needed and he shaped well sole start on turf as a juvenile.

Form: 3/672-9

(12)

Starlight Nation²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: C G Cox| OR: 74| D

6/1

Gradual progress since switched to handicaps, off the mark at Leicester (7f, good) 3 weeks ago. 3 lb rise is unlikely to debar another bold show with Tom Marquand again in the hot-seat.

Form: 437641

(2)

Al Motasim^p1¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Billy Loughnane⁽³⁾| T: H Palmer| OR: 69

8/1

Showed ability in 3 starts at 2 yrs and improved when runner-up on return/debut for new yard at Haydock (7f, good) where he was just ahead of Starlight Nation. Not in the same form at Goodwood since but now tried in cheekpieces and probably worth another chance.

Form: 360-25

(7)

Wadi Bani^t²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S Durack| OR: 68

11/4

Remains winless following 10 attempts but ought to put that right before long having made the frame on 4 of his 5 starts since returning to action in March. Latest second at Doncaster (7f, good to firm) was a creditable effort and he shouldn't be far away.

Form: 8-37242

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 15p in the pound

Non-Runners

(1)

Ring of Light²³⁰

Weight: 9-13| Age: 5

T: H Candy J: Dane O'Neill

Forecasts

Wadi Bani (11/4), Capote's Dream (9/2), Ring of Light (11/2), Starlight Nation (6/1), Al Motasim (8/1), Bastogne (9/1), Secret Strength (12/1), King of The Dance (16/1), Unsung Hero (18/1), Night Arc (22/1), Plumette (50/1), Lunar Space (50/1)

Having performed with plenty of credit in a higher-grade handicap on Oaks day at Epsom, SECRET STRENGTH could be the answer to this competitive and open-looking contest. Starlight Nation has improved with each of his three starts since tackling handicaps and is feared greatly on the back of his Leicester success. Al Motasim failed to make an impact at Goodwood but remains of interest in view of his reappearance effort at Haydock, while Capote's Dream and Ring of Light are also shortlisted.