13:50 Newbury

Saturday 18 May 2024

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

Sky Sports Racing Aston Park Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 2m 33.43s

(8)

Cemhaan^t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: P Cosgrave| T: George Baker| OR: 110| D

28/1

Progressive handicapper for some time now, winning 6 times in all since September 2021, latest a career best at Kempton last month, Makes Group 3 debut late in his career but he's not out of it on the figures.

Form: 0130-41

(7)

Desert Hero²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 113| D

1/1

Smart performance when winning the traditionally very strong King George (Handicap) at Royal Ascot in June. Overcame tricky circumstances when following up in the Gordon Stakes and third-place finish in the St Leger was another forward step. Excellent reappearance at Sandown and this trip will help.

Form: 1/8113-2

(4)

Flying Honours²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 107

33/1

Listed/Group 3 winner at 2. Finished lame in Dante at York last spring on sole 3-y-o outing and gelded after, he showed very little on reappearance at Sandown. Leading connections persevering but easy to have doubts. Up in trip.

Form: 1131/0-7

(9)

King Of Conquest^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 109

10/1

Won a Goodwood listed race last May and proved his stamina for 1½m when third in a Group 3 on final 4-y-o start. Respectable fourth in a Bahrain listed race on reappearance in March but didn't build on that back in Britain last time and he's not totally straightforward.

Form: 6423-45

(2)

Maxi King¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: David Egan| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 96| D

10/1

Made light of a 13-month absence as he followed up his Doncaster maiden success in 8-runner handicap at Ripon (9.8f, heavy). Improved another chunk when completing the hat-trick at Newmarket but this asks a totally different question.

Form: 433/1-11

(5)

Middle Earth²²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 108| D

10/3

Didn't race until June bit quickly made up for lost time, supplementing his novice win in the Melrose on handicap debut before keeping on nicely to add to his tally in listed company over 14.2f in October. Can make a better 4-y-o but this trip may be sharp enough.

Form: 221171-

(1)

Salt Bay²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 109

7/1

Relatively lightly raced since making a winning debut at 2 yrs and unable to add to his tally in pretty good company. Nice type physically and reappearance third in the John Porter over C&D a month was a career best.

Form: 3/7427-3

(6)

So Moonstruck⁶⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: Owen Burrows

28/1

Smart form, winning maiden at Dusseldorf in 2021 before making frame all 3 starts following season, including when head third of 20 to Sammarco in Deutsches Derby at Hamburg final start. Missed 2023 and left Markus Klug but has the form to play a big part is retaining his ability.

Form: 21423/

Non-Runners

(3)

Bolster²⁶

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: K R Burke J: C Lee

Forecasts

Desert Hero (1/1), Middle Earth (10/3), Salt Bay (7/1), King Of Conquest (10/1), Maxi King (10/1), Bolster (14/1), Cemhaan (28/1), So Moonstruck (28/1), Flying Honours (33/1)

Given the just shy of 10f trip is almost certainly on the sharp side for DESERT HERO, his head-second on reappearance at Sandown has to go down as a fine effort and, upped in distance, he's the one to beat in this company. Salt Bay's third-placed finish in the John Porter over C&D a month ago puts him right in the mix, while low-mileage 4-y-o Middle Earth looks the type to raise his game again this term.