14:25 Newbury

Saturday 20 July 2024

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Mettal UK Handicap

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 3m 37.85s

(6)

Prydwen³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Callum Shepherd| T: George Scott| OR: 108| D

16/1

Progressive handicapper with an excellent strike rate in the last couple of years, bagging a valuable pot in the AW Marathon before following up at Southwell. Most optimistic runner in the Ascot Gold Cup and predictably finished well held. This is much more suitable,

Form: 1-52119

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(4)

Naqeeb^t³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 103

7/2

Superbly bred (closely related to top-class pair Baaeed and Hukum) who returned to action with a solid third in Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket in May. Clearly not himself without usual tongue tie in Yorkshire Cup a fortnight later and easy to excuse run at Royal Ascot since. Headgear off.

Form: 113-360

(9)

Sleeping Lion¹⁰⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-1| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: Harry Charlton| OR: 97| C| D

25/1

Useful sort who ran up to his best when second at Kempton 3 months ago. Off the track since but he's pretty consistent and return to turf no issue.

Form: 4220-32

(2)

Ranch Hand⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Callum Hutchinson⁽³⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 97| D

25/1

Smart stayer at this peak but restricted to just 2 runs in 2022 and missed all of last year. No surprise then that he shaped as though in need of the run on May's return to action and this will reveal more.

Form: 42443/7

(7)

Kyle Of Lochalsh^t³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Hollie Doyle| T: H Morrison| OR: 97| C

10/3

Ended 2023 with a pair of wins at Chelmsford and duly left his low-key reappearance behind when making it 2-4 on turf at Salisbury (14.2f, heavy) in May. Up 10 but confirmed he's better than ever when third in 2m handicap at Royal Ascot so he demands respect.

Form: 311-013

(8)

Master Milliner³²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Charles Bishop| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 93| D

50/1

Back-to-back handicap winner at up to 20.5f in summer of 2022. Didn't make it to the track last year and pitched in deep on return, he didn't show a great deal at Royal Ascot. IN good hands though and sure to step up on that.

Form: 01199/0

(5)

Temporize³²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Connor Beasley| T: S Hosie| OR: 89

10/1

Best effort yet when landing a 17-runner handicap at the big Goodwood meeting last summer (20.4f, soft). Sound start to present campaign when 1¼ lengths second to Pledgeofallegiance back at that Sussex venue in May and shaped a bit better than the result when fifth at Ascot since.

Form: 2103-25

(3)

Spirit Mixer^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 88

7/1

Winless since 2022 and dropping in the weight without screaming that he's ready to take advantage of late, in cheekpieces last 3 starts. Wasn't ideally placed as the race unfolded in the Northumberland Plate last time, though.

Form: 7-89039

(10)

Shagpyle²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Tyler Heard⁽³⁾| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 86| D

11/1

Heavily backed and got the job done on first foray over 2m at Ffos Las a month ago, opening her account in handicap company. This is a much deeper race but she's unexposed.

Form: 242-481

(1)

Dancing In Paris⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-3| J: K T O'Neill| T: Ian Williams| OR: 85

10/3

Powered clear to land 20-runner York handicap (11.8f) in May and confirmed the promise of his Goodwood run when going in again at Ascot last week, suited by step up to 14.2f. Looks a stayer on the up and 2m will suit.

Form: 082121

Forecasts

Kyle Of Lochalsh (10/3), Dancing In Paris (10/3), Naqeeb (7/2), Spirit Mixer (7/1), Temporize (10/1), Shagpyle (11/1), Prydwen (16/1), Ranch Hand (25/1), Sleeping Lion (25/1), Master Milliner (50/1)

DANCING IN PARIS cranked it up another notch for his latest win at Ascot, value for extra to boot, and with this further move up in trip sure to suit, he is selected to take the step up in class in his stride. Kyle of Lochalsh also arrives in top form so he's feared most, though low-mileage 4-y-o Naqeeb demands respect, too.