15:00 Newbury

Saturday 18 May 2024

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

Trade Nation London Gold Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 2m 4.36s

(5)

Black Run^t¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: P & O Cole| OR: 99| D

9/1

Won a Goodwood novice last autumn and showed much improved form with his reappearance under his belt (also tongue tied first time) when adding to his tally in 1¼m Newmarket handicap 3 weeks ago. Can go on improving.

Form: 31-61

(12)

Chantilly⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 95| D

4/1

Stepped up on his juvenile form when making a successful handicap debut/reappearance over 1¼m at Leopardstown (heavy) 6 weeks ago. The handicapper hasn't missed him but he could have more to come for a top yard which won this race last year.

Form: 6223-1

(2)

King's Gambit²³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: Harry Charlton| OR: 93| BF| C

7/2

Won a 1m course maiden last August and took another step forward when only narrowly failing to concede 6 lb to the now smart Bracken's Laugh back here (1m again) in September. Shapes as if he'll stay 1¼m and a very interesting contender for a yard with a strong record in this race.

Form: 812-

(7)

Persica⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 92

16/1

Fairly useful dual winner at 2. It turns out he had a lot on his plate up against Notable Speech in 1m Kempton conditions race on reappearance and he looks on a competitive opening handicap mark now stepping up to 1¼m for the first time.

Form: 7101-3

(13)

Goodwood Odyssey²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: K Shoemark| T: D Menuisier| OR: 90| D

11/2

Took his career record to 2-3 when producing a useful performance to see off by Brioni by 1¾ lengths in 1¼m Sandown handicap 3 weeks ago. Major surprise if there isn't more to come.

Form: 1-21

(14)

Go Daddy³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 89| D

50/1

Well suited by step up to this sort of trip when winning 5-runner Nottingham nursery in the mud last autumn. Respectable fourth in Newmarket handicap on reappearance but it only serves to remind that he needs a good deal more from his current mark.

Form: 38214-4

(10)

Poniros³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: David Egan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 88

16/1

Won 1m Nottingham maiden (heavy) on debut last autumn and better form when placed in novice company over 1¼m since. Very much unexposed now moving into handicap company for his leading stable.

Form: 13-2

(3)

Brioni²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: J P Spencer| T: A King| OR: 85| BF

12/1

Progressive sort who made it third time lucky when making all in 1m Kempton maiden on reappearance in April. Good 1¾ lengths second of 12 to Goodwood Odyssey in handicap at Sandown (1¼m, good to soft) since. Merits respect.

Form: 32-12

(11)

Fighter Command¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 84| D

12/1

Placed on his first 2 starts and made it third time lucky in 1¼m Windsor maiden (good to soft) 19 days ago. His opening handicap mark isn't obviously generous but he's from a top stable so could have more to offer.

Form: 2-31

(4)

Into Battle²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: L Morris| T: E Walker| OR: 82

40/1

Left debut run well behind to win 14-runner maiden (7/1) at Kempton (1mf) in November and followed up under a penalty in 8.5f Epsom novice (good to firm) last month. More needed again now stepped up to 1¼m for handicap debut.

Form: 51-1

(6)

Prepschool²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: S De Sousa| T: M L W Bell| OR: 81

20/1

Another good effort when 3 lengths third to Goodwood Odyssey and Brioni in 1¼m Sandown handicap 3 weeks ago but he might prove vulnerable to some of the more progressive types in this line-up.

Form: 2124-43

(8)

Spirit Of Acklam²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 80| D

9/1

Promising Cracksman colt who has won novices at Ayr (1m, good to soft) and Ripon (1¼m, heavy) 7 months apart. Clocked a good time at Ripon and doesn't look overburdened from an opening mark of 80.

Form: 71-1

(1)

Individualism²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 78| BF

16/1

Half-brother to connections' Gold Cup winner Subjectivist. Hasn't won in 5 starts but has shown plenty of promise. Couldn't live with a Karl Burke improver on 1m Musselburgh handicap debut/reappearance at Musselburgh 4 weeks ago but he saw off the rest comfortably. Remains capable of better.

Form: 2325-2

Non-Runners

(9)

Hot Fuss¹³

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: Tom Dascombe J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

Forecasts

King's Gambit (7/2), Chantilly (4/1), Goodwood Odyssey (11/2), Black Run (9/1), Spirit Of Acklam (9/1), Brioni (12/1), Fighter Command (12/1), Poniros (16/1), Persica (16/1), Individualism (16/1), Prepschool (20/1), Into Battle (40/1), Go Daddy (50/1), Hot Fuss (50/1)

Always one of the hottest 3-y-o handicaps of the season. SPIRIT OF ACKLAM's yard plundered a big-field 3-y-o handicap at York earlier in the week and this progressive dual novice winner might be able to take the prize back to Yorkshire. Goodwood Odyssey, Chantilly, who represents last year's winning connections, and King's Gambit, whose yard has a strong record in this, head the many possible dangers.