19:30 Newmarket

Friday 21 July 2023

All17:4518:2018:5519:3020:0520:40

Pertemps Network Handicap

Off time: 19:30 | Winning time: 2m 5.1s

(7)

Royal Symbol^t1⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 91

7/2

Debut Kempton winner and off 17 months/had wind op before fair fourth of 6 in minor event at Sandown (10f, good to soft) 66 days ago. Tongue strap on for handicap debut. Not ruled out.

Form: 1/4

(10)

Gloucestershire²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Connor Planas⁽⁵⁾| T: M Meade| OR: 91

14/1

Off 4 months before posting a respectable fourth of 10 in handicap over C&D 21 days ago. Needs considering with that run under his belt.

Form: 1634-34

(4)

Fantasy Believer¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Saffie Osborne| T: E Walker| OR: 82

22/1

Yet to score in 2023 but he arrives in decent nick, fifth of 13 in handicap at Kempton (8f) 15 days ago. Up in trip and can go well again.

Form: 988235

(6)

Coco Jack⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Levi Bedford⁽⁷⁾| T: George Scott| OR: 91

10/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time when respectable fifth of 9 in handicap here (8f, good to soft) 6 days ago. Headgear dispensed with now but he can give another good account.

Form: 647285

(2)

Wilkie^h1⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: George Wood| T: J Butler| OR: 80

50/1

Failed to come on for his reappearance when last of 19 in handicap at Newbury (10f, good to firm) 63 days ago. Hooded for 1st time now.

Form: 53/50-80

(11)

Ziryab²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 88

2/1

Got off the mark at Leicester in June but not seen to best effect when fifth of 15 in handicap at Royal Ascot (10f, good to firm) 27 days ago, making his effort earlier than ideal. Remains with potential so this Kingman colt is very much one to consider.

Form: 4215

(9)

First Officer^b⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Tommie Jakes⁽⁷⁾| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 79| D

28/1

Took a step back in the right direction when third of 6 in handicap at Yarmouth (8f, good to firm) 43 days ago. Back up in trip and no forlorn hope off an easing mark.

Form: 954003

(5)

Defence Of Fort⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Hutchinson⁽³⁾| T: P W Chapple-Hyam| OR: 87

20/1

Debut 7f Ascot winner who wasn't discredited after 7 months off when seventh of 11 on his handicap debut at Haydock (8.2f, good to firm) 55 days ago. Needs considering now stepping up in trip.

Form: 147-7

(12)

Pjanoo⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: J P Spencer| T: R Spencer| OR: 82

14/1

Fair maiden who resumed from 9 months off with a very good second of 4 in handicap at Haydock (10.2f, good to firm) 42 days ago. In the picture nudged up just 1 lb.

Form: 2369-2

(8)

Therapist²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 81| CD

9/2

Took a step forward on her handicap debut to get off the mark over C&D (good to firm) 20 days ago. Up 4 lb but she's still not taken lightly.

Form: 232-351

(1)

Moonlit Cloud²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Tom Marquand| T: D K Ivory| OR: 72| BF| D

17/2

Dual 1m2f winner this term who has continued on the up, second of 10 in handicap over C&D 21 days ago. Can make her presence felt again despite taking a 3 lb rise.

Form: 391122

Non-Runners

(3)

Like A Tiger⁷⁷

Weight: 9-9| Age: 3

T: J Ferguson J: Daniel Muscutt

Forecasts

Ziryab (2/1), Royal Symbol (7/2), Like A Tiger (4/1), Therapist (9/2), Moonlit Cloud (17/2), Coco Jack (10/1), Gloucestershire (14/1), Pjanoo (14/1), Defence Of Fort (20/1), Fantasy Believer (22/1), First Officer (28/1), Wilkie (50/1)

Kingman colt ZIRYAB had looked firmly on the up until not seen to best effect when fifth at Royal Ascot so is worth another chance to confirm himself a useful colt in the making. Moonlit Cloud is more exposed but arrives at the top of her game and seems sure to have a say, while the handily-weighted Like A Tiger and C&D scorer Therapist need factoring into a highly competitive handicap too.