16:10 Newmarket

Saturday 1 July 2023

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Discover Newmarket Handicap

Off time: 16:12 | Winning time: 2m 5.60s

(2)

Total Lockdown^h³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: P J McDonald| T: J Butler| OR: 70| CD

40/1

Off the mark when sharing the spoils in a C&D handicap off 2 lb lower last summer but he's hard to recommend on the back of an inauspicious reappearance display at Yarmouth.

Form: 21560-8

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(8)

V Twelve¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: K Shoemark| T: E Walker| OR: 69| BF| D

15/2

Signed off 2022 on a winning note at Windsor (1¼m, good to soft), following which he was gelded. Stepped up on low-key reappearance when fourth of 9 at Salisbury and, though not in the same form next time, a bold show could be on the way back at this trip off a reduced mark.

Form: 321-044

(9)

Niarbyl Bay⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: T E Whelan| T: H Candy| OR: 68

10/1

Fair third in an AW maiden on third and final start of 2022, and wasn't disgraced when fourth on return/handicap debut at Bath (10.2f, soft) in May. However, that effort hardly represented a step forward and he will need to take one here if he's to get competitive.

Form: 053-4

(6)

Therapist³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| OR: 77| BF

8/1

Placed all 3 starts at 2 yrs and again in the money when third to the useful Infinite Cosmos in a maiden on the other course here (1¼m, good) in May. Rather disappointing at Carlisle since, though, and improvement needed now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 232-35

(4)

Blueflagflyinghigh⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: James Doyle| T: M L W Bell| OR: 77| D

3/1

Respectable fifth of 12 upped to this trip in a Beverley handicap on return in May. Much-improved when subsequently scoring at Ripon (9.8f, good to firm) recently and this 5 lb higher mark may well be within reach.

Form: 87-3251

(1)

Zara's Return¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: W Buick| T: W Stone| OR: 76| D

10/3

Improved when opening her account on the Rowley Mile (1m, good) 3 starts back. Further progress upped to this trip recently at Sandown where she made all for a decisive success and while a 7 lb rise demands more, she has to be feared with William Buick in the hot-seat.

Form: 7-58141

(3)

Dog Fox^h²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Hollie Doyle| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 74| BF| D

4/1

Gelded during the winter and much-improved upped to this trip in handicaps with the aid of headgear this season, scoring at Yarmouth and Haydock on first 2 starts of the campaign. Failed in hat-trick bid at Chepstow but that race may have come too soon and he remains of interest.

Form: 578-113

(7)

Wintercrack^h1²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: K T O'Neill| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 73| D

25/1

Made it third time lucky when landing a Leicester maiden over this trip in April. No surprise that she struggled in the Cheshire Oaks next time but it's hard to excuse her subsequent handicap debut no-show.

Form: 0-0176

(5)

Serengeti Sunset^p¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Cieren Fallon| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 72

9/1

Arguably posted her best effort in first-time cheekpieces (retained) at Sandown where he was beaten 3 lengths into second by Zara's Return. Meets that rival on 6 lb better terms here and could have a part to play, particularly if settling better this time.

Form: 86-5832

Forecasts

Blueflagflyinghigh (3/1), Zara's Return (10/3), Dog Fox (4/1), V Twelve (15/2), Therapist (8/1), Serengeti Sunset (9/1), Niarbyl Bay (10/1), Wintercrack (25/1), Total Lockdown (40/1)

The vote in this competitive handicap goes to V TWELVE, who was successful at Windsor off 1 lb higher on his sole previous start over this trip and, judged on this season's efforts at around 1½m, dropping back to this distance could be just the ticket. Despite his odds-on failure when bidding for the hat-trick last time, Dog Fox remains of interest and is second choice ahead of recent Ripon winner Blueflagflyinghigh. Sandown 1-2 Zara's Return and Serengeti Sunset need considering, too.