17:30 Newmarket

Saturday 20 July 2024

All16:2016:5517:3018:0018:3519:05

Adnams Longshore Vodka Handicap

Off time: 17:32 | Winning time: 1m 25.26s

(2)

Wallop¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 89

8/1

Very lightly raced for his age and was successful in a Kempton novice on his only start in 2023. Off 12 months subsequently and offered little since return, so this rates as an uphill task.

Form: 52/1-007

(3)

Havana Blue^h1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Ryan Sexton| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 88| CD

13/2

Scored over C&D last season and shaped better than the distance beaten suggests when seventh here last month, albeit underwhelming with his finishing effort. Hood now goes on but softer ground here is no bad thing.

Form: 100-867

(7)

Lir Speciale^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Marco Ghiani| T: S C Williams| OR: 87| D

5/1

Four-time winner for Roger Varian and bright start for new yard when fourth tackling inadequate distance on return at Newmarket (5f) in May. Yet to fully build on that effort and is interesting runner back at optimum trip with stable going much better now.

Form: 094-406

(1)

Metaverse^h³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: W Buick| T: D Menuisier| OR: 84| D

13/8

Resumed progress returned to this trip when a close second at Kempton in May and again was denied only narrowly when filling the same position at Newbury (7f, good to firm, 15/2) 37 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 614522

(4)

Ararat^h²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 83| CD

10/1

Improved when winning over C&D last summer and signed 2023 by also landing a 5-runner handicap on Rowley course (7f, good). Entitled to have needed his recent comeback run but current mark does demand more.

Form: 51431-9

(6)

Outrun The Storm⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Billy Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 75| CD

5/1

Won over C&D last summer from a 5 lb lower mark and has also scored twice this season, most recently at Chester in June. Ran respectably under a typically aggressive ride when fourth at Doncaster (7f, good to soft) 9 days ago and holds frame claims again.

Form: 6-13514

(8)

Lord Rapscallion^t,v²³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: S De Sousa| T: S C Williams| OR: 74| D

14/1

Little to shout about since scoring on the Rowley course last spring but has headgear reapplied for the first time this season and his yard are enjoying a positive spell, so not completely discounted from much-reduced mark.

Form: 079-960

Non-Runners

(5)

Final Watch⁸

Weight: 9-9| Age: 6

T: W Stone J: N Callan

Forecasts

Metaverse (13/8), Lir Speciale (5/1), Outrun The Storm (5/1), Havana Blue (13/2), Wallop (8/1), Ararat (10/1), Final Watch (12/1), Lord Rapscallion (14/1)

LIR SPECIALE has slipped in the weights since joining Stuart Williams but is returned to his optimum trip for the first time this season with his yard going well. Metaverse is another leading player on the back of 2 close seconds, with front-runner Outrun The Storm fancied to complete the placings.