18:18 Newmarket

Friday 2 August 2024

All17:4318:1818:5319:2819:5820:28

Aston Martin Handicap

Off time: 18:18 | Winning time: 1m 25.01s

(1)

Bet Me^h¹¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Tommie Jakes⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boughey| OR: 87| D

20/1

Shaped pretty well on first two starts for new connections at Kempton earlier this year and probably best to overlook latest effort at Bath where she was amiss. Still, others look stronger on this occasion.

Form: 312-638

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(2)

Farhh To Shy⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: T P Queally| T: G G Margarson| OR: 87| D

15/2

Strong traveller who doesn't always deliver off the bridle and it's been a struggle so far this season. However, she's now eased in class off a reduced mark and it would be no surprise to see this 6-y-o bounce back with a bold show.

Form: 006707

(4)

Ararat^h¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P Cosgrave| T: D M Simcock| OR: 83| CD

9/2

Successful over this C&D and on the Rowley Mile last season, and quickly put his down-the-field reappearance behind him when finding just one too good here 13 days ago. However, a personal best will be needed if he's to take this.

Form: 1431-92

(3)

Pumalin Park^t¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Saffie Osborne| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 82| D

8/1

Won 7f Salisbury handicap in June and followed that with a good second at Kempton (1m). Suspicion that he wasn't suited by the track at Ripon last time and he could play a leading role reunited with Saffie Osborne.

Form: 5-57127

(7)

Al Muqdad⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Harry Bentley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 81| D

85/40

Four wins from 14 runs in what has already been a productive 2024. Showed no signs of his busy campaign catching up with him when third recently at Yarmouth (1m, good) where he was left with too much to do. Major player.

Form: 411413

(5)

Tactical³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Ryan Sexton| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 80| C| D

10/1

Would be thrown in off this mark if able to reproduce something akin to his peak form for Andrew Balding but this 6-y-o is currently operating well below that level.

Form: 00-0906

(8)

Waiting All Night^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: R Havlin| T: R Spencer| OR: 77

7/2

Without a win since debut but has been heading back in the right direction of late, performing with credit in slightly higher-grade handicaps over this C&D the last twice. Has to enter calculations.

Form: 4-39524

(6)

Ataser²⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: A J Farragher| T: T Kent| OR: 71| CD

14/1

Winless since striking over this C&D back in June 2022 and while he is lurking on a dangerous mark, his record when fresh doesn't augur well ahead of this belated seasonal reappearance.

Form: 025309-

Forecasts

Al Muqdad (85/40), Waiting All Night (7/2), Ararat (9/2), Farhh To Shy (15/2), Pumalin Park (8/1), Tactical (10/1), Ataser (14/1), Bet Me (20/1)

A chance is taken on FARHH TO SHY, who has yet to put her best foot forward this season but she wasn't beaten far in a stronger handicap than this off a 3 lb higher mark in May and a reproduction of that would be enough to put her firmly in the picture. Al Muqdad is holding his form admirably well and looks set for another leading role, while Waiting All Night is third on the list ahead of Pumalin Park.