17:00 Newbury

Saturday 23 September 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Handicap (Str)

Off time: 17:03 | Winning time: 1m 45.47s

(5)

Metal Merchant³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: James Doyle| T: J Channon| OR: 87| D

3/1

Useful performer who has been better than recent form figures suggest, not seen to best effect taking on his elders for the first time when mid-field at Sandown (8f, good) last month. Could make his presence felt if things drop right.

Form: 330356

(2)

Baltic Voyage²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 85

7/1

Got back on the up with his breakthrough win in 8-runner handicap at Ripon (1¼m, soft) in July and can have his last couple of efforts easily excused (pulled way too hard at Sandown 3 weeks ago). This his first go at 1m and needs to get back on track.

Form: 4-84190

(4)

Welleef³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: R Kingscote| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 82| BF

4/1

Lope De Vega colt who looked a good prospect when landing 15-runner Leicester novice (7f, soft) on debut in August but still failed to make the expected improvement when only third in a similar event at Salisbury 15 days later. Could have more to offer now handicapping.

Form: 13

(7)

Greatest Time¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 82

22/1

Showed plenty of ability when runner-up at Newmarket 12 months ago but was too free on return over C&D in April. Still below his debut form but shaped with a little encouragement after a further 4 months off at Kempton recently and will need to raise his game heading into handicaps.

Form: 2-05

(9)

Lunatick²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: H Morrison| OR: 79| D

4/1

Fairly useful colt who made the most of a good opportunity to finally open his account in a match at Brighton (8f, good) 20 days ago. That form obviously needs treating with a pinch of salt, but he could kick on now up and running.

Form: 209201

(10)

Golspie^b²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 77| CD

8/1

Made a winning debut over C&D in April and has been consistent rather than progressive since, latest when 3¾ lengths second to Mudskipper at Salisbury (8f, soft) just over 3 weeks ago, badly hampered over 1f out. Fancied to be in the shake-up.

Form: 146552

(1)

City Of York^h²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Callum Shepherd| T: D M Simcock| OR: 75| D

5/1

Is really getting his act together now and having opened his account on the turf at Lingfield last month, justified market confidence and a better attitude than had been the case making handicap debut at Kempton (8f) 24 days ago. Should be bang there bidding for a hat-trick.

Form: 335-U11

Non-Runners

(8)

Bodorgan⁴²

Weight: 9-9| Age: 3

T: C Hills J: K Stott

(3)

Mudskipper²²

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: D Menuisier J: Oisin Murphy

(6)

King's Code¹⁴

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: P D Evans J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Metal Merchant (3/1), Lunatick (4/1), Welleef (4/1), Mudskipper (4/1), City Of York (5/1), Bodorgan (5/1), King's Code (5/1), Baltic Voyage (7/1), Golspie (8/1), Greatest Time (22/1)

A tricky finale to solve but CITY OF YORK is really getting his act together now, so David Simcock's gelding is fancied to complete the hat-trick at the expense of Metal Merchant, who is in better heart- than recent form figures suggest and has been given some respite from the handicapper. Mudskipper and Golspie were 1-2 at Salisbury earlier this month and they can do battle for bronze on this occasion.