14:30 Newbury

Friday 17 May 2024

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3517:1017:40

Unibet Handicap

Off time: 14:32 | Winning time: 2m 8.40s

(1)

Sweet Reward¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: H Crouch| T: J G Portman| OR: 89| C| D

14/1

Won twice last year and looked as good as ever when second in C&D handicap on return last month. Not in same form at Goodwood since but must enter calculations.

Form: 1657-27

(5)

Aikhal^t⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 88| D

50/1

Failed to beat a rival home in a couple of starts at Wolverhampton this year and is hard to recommend back on turf here.

Form: 8/006-60

(4)

Mustazeed¹⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Hayley Turner| T: Harry Eustace| OR: 88| CD

6/1

Won twice over C&D (including this contest) early last season and largely acquitted himself well in defeat thereafter. Capable when fresh but others look better treated.

Form: 117420-

(8)

Defence Of Fort^h²⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: R Havlin| T: P W Chapple-Hyam| OR: 87| D

22/1

Back to winning ways, in first-time hood, when taking 9-runner handicap (7/1) at Sandown (10f, good to soft) in August. Feasibly treated on return and could be a player.

Form: 147/701-

(2)

Valiabad²⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: P J Dobbs| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 86| D

11/1

Three-time winner in 2022 for M. Delzangles in Francebut wasn't in same form last year and remains to be seen if switch to new yard sparks a revival.

Form: 15/0790-

(11)

Glam De Vega^h1⁶⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: S De Sousa| T: R Varian| OR: 86

4/1

Twice a winner in 2022, including on handicap debut at Hamilton (9.2f) 21 months ago. Not seen since but reappears on a workable mark and must enter calculations, particularly if the market vibes are strong.

Form: 5211/

(15)

High Fibre^t1³⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Spencer| T: H Fry| OR: 85

20/1

Improving handicapper when with Ralph Beckett but below best (after 13 months off) for new yard at Ascot this time last year and has to ovecome a further absence now.

Form: 63612/6-

(3)

Cracksking²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 84| BF| D

9/2

Opened his account in a Newcastle maiden (10.2f) on final start of 2023 and built on that when fifth of 18 in C&D handicap on return 27 days ago. Likely more to come yet and is one for shortlist.

Form: 42421-5

(14)

Gallant Lion²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Rossa Ryan| T: A King| OR: 83| BF| CD

7/2

Won 4 handicaps on the bounce (at up to 11.6f) for Tony Carroll last summer and got back on the up when posting a good third, on debut for new yard, in C&D handicap last month. Likely contender.

Form: 11150-3

(10)

Winter Reprise⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Tom Marquand| T: A King| OR: 83| D

50/1

Disappointed on Flat and over hurdles for current yard and has plenty to prove at present.

Form: P2043/7

(12)

Enthrallment¹¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: T P Queally| T: K Jewell| OR: 81

100/1

Down the field both starts this year, ninth of 12 in handicap (7/1) at Wolverhampton (14f) in January, Makes limited appeal, back in trip on first run for new connections.

Form: 6273-89

(9)

Hosanna Power¹⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: R Kingscote| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 81| BF

7/1

Made the frame all 3 starts in maidens/minor events, latest when third of 12 at Lingfield (10f, AW, 5/4) in November. Switches to handicaps on return but opening mark could have been kinder.

Form: 2/23-

(7)

Monteria^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: George Rooke| T: W S Kittow| OR: 77| D

28/1

Twice a winner on testing ground last year and should be fitter for last month's course reappearance. Chance would be aided by significant rainfall.

Form: 73312-0

(13)

Moonlit Cloud¹¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Liam Keniry| T: D K Ivory| OR: 70| D

28/1

Career best when winning 11-runner handicap at Bath (10.2f, heavy, 11/2) earlier this month. Things will be tougher under a 5 lb penalty and is another who would prefer slower ground.

Form: 5-58261

Non-Runners

(6)

Bint Al Daar¹⁶³

Weight: 8-11| Age: 4

T: K P De Foy J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Gallant Lion (7/2), Glam De Vega (4/1), Cracksking (9/2), Mustazeed (6/1), Hosanna Power (7/1), Valiabad (11/1), Sweet Reward (14/1), High Fibre (20/1), Defence Of Fort (22/1), Moonlit Cloud (28/1), Monteria (28/1), Bint Al Daar (33/1), Winter Reprise (50/1), Aikhal (50/1), Enthrallment (100/1)

Preference is for CRACKSKING, who showed more than enough on his return here last month to suggest a handicap of this nature is within his grasp. Gallant Lion and Glam de Vega rate the principal dangers.