17:15 Newbury

Saturday 19 August 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:4017:15

Benchmark Handicap

Off time: 17:23 | Winning time: 2m 8.98s

(1)

Imperial Emperor^t1³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 97

4/1

Dubawi colt who made it 2-2 in 1m Newmarket novice in June. Only fifth of 6 to Nostrum in listed race at Newmarket (8f, good to firm) 37 days ago but sort to bounce back now going up in trip on his handicap debut. Tongue strap on 1st time.

Form: 1-15

(6)

Tony Montana¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: K Shoemark| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 92| CD

4/1

425,000 gns Kingman colt who opened his account in a C&D novice in July. Posted a solid fourth switched to handicaps at Goodwood since. Not ruled out off the same mark.

Form: 2-3014

(9)

Maximilian Caesar⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: N Callan| T: M Botti| OR: 89

25/1

Wide-margin winner in 1m handicap at Doncaster on return. Got back on track when second of four in handicap at Yarmouth (8f, good) 50 days ago. Enters calculations now stepping up in trip.

Form: 322-102

(3)

Intricacy^p¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Rossa Ryan| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 89| D

11/1

Already developing a consistent record and scored readily in first-time cheekpieces at Ascot in July. Solid fourth of 12 at Goodwood since so he's shortlisted.

Form: 242214

(2)

Rogue Sea⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: David Egan| T: Tom Clover| OR: 88| D

17/2

Looked quite useful when winning 2 novices over 1¼m. Raced too freely over much longer trip at Haydock on handicap debut but a well-run race over this distance offers a more suitable test.

Form: 1217

(8)

Greek Order⁸⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 85

9/4

Well-bred Kingman colt who has already shown fairly useful form and overcame a slow start to score on his handicap debut at Sandown in May. Off since but he has more to come up in trip and makes plenty of appeal.

Form: 32-31

(5)

Cracksking³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 84

6/1

Progressive maiden. 4/1, very good second of 7 to Tony Montana in minor event at this C&D (good to firm) 37 days ago, not ideally placed. Makes handicap debut. Ought to be in the shake-up.

Form: 342

(4)

She's Hot⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Mohammed Tabti⁽⁵⁾| T: P & O Cole| OR: 81

12/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time (and had breathing operation), good fifth in 1m handicap at Goodwood. Refused to race in handicap at Chepstow (10f, good) 9 days ago though so others appeal more.

Form: 1-5625R

Non-Runners

(7)

Bleak³⁶

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: W J Haggas J: Tom Marquand

Forecasts

Greek Order (9/4), Imperial Emperor (4/1), Tony Montana (4/1), Cracksking (6/1), Bleak (6/1), Rogue Sea (17/2), Intricacy (11/1), She's Hot (12/1), Maximilian Caesar (25/1)

Some promising sorts in opposition but the vote goes to BLEAK who hasn't looked back since being gelded and can quickly resume winning ways on the back of his excellent York second. Greek Order has been off the track since May but is still feared most off a handy-looking mark, with Cracksking, Rogue Sea and Tony Montana all in the mix too.