15:15 Newcastle

Saturday 16 November 2024

All15:1515:4816:1816:4817:1817:4818:1818:4819:18

BetUK Churchill Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 2m 8.08s

(6)

Dubai Honour^t⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: A J Farragher| T: W J Haggas| OR: 118| BF| D

13/8

Landed a pair of Group 1 wins in Australia in spring 2023 and landed his first success at the highest level in Europe when landing Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in June. Back to something like his best when runner-up in Grosser Preis von Baden (11.9f, good) in September so must hold leading claims.

Form: 173172

(8)

Claymore¹⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 102| D

33/1

11/2, ended up running respectably when 4¼ lengths fourth of 6 to Isle of Jura in listed race at Goodwood (9.9f, good) when last seen 6 months ago, always on the back foot after very slowly away. Others more appealing on return.

Form: 2-64764

(3)

Daysofourlives^p²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: M Botti| OR: 101| D

17/2

First home in his group when fourth of 29 in the Hunt Cup at the Royal meeting and followed that with a win at the Doncaster St Leger meeting. Generally consistent despite his quirks but ran no sort of race back at Ascot (8f, soft) last month so needs to bounce back.

Form: 1-32410

(7)

Peace Man¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 111| D

11/4

Won 10f maiden/handicaps at Windsor in May 2023 and progressed further when bringing up the hat-trick over same trip on the July Course a month later. Returned from long absence when third in Darley Stakes last month and narrowly denied in a listed event 2 weeks ago. Fancied to make amends.

Form: 4111-32

(9)

Savvy Victory^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: S M Levey| T: S Woods| OR: 100| D

66/1

33/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, underperformed when fifth of 6 in handicap at Southwell (8.1f) 2 weeks ago. Back up in trip and likely to find this company too competitive once again.

Form: 256765

(5)

Sir Busker^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Brandon Wilkie| T: W J Knight| OR: 108| C| D

28/1

Credit to connections and ended 2-year losing run in big-field handicap at the York Ebor meeting. Respectable effort in listed race at Ayr next time but found run of good form halted in face of a stiff task at Ascot (8f, soft) 4 weeks ago. Considered back up in trip (was last in this last year).

Form: 654140

(1)

Swing Vote^t²³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Harry Davies| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 107| D

25/1

10/1 and visored for 1st time, run best excused when 10½ lengths eighth of 13 to Two Rivers Over in Godolphin Mile at Meydan (8f) when last seen 7 months ago, left poorly placed. Up in trip. Headgear experiment shelved for his return.

Form: 91-1158

(10)

The Foxes³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 108| D

9/2

Group 2 winner at 2 yrs who added the Dante at York to his C.V last season. Hadn't fully fired in the early part of the year and was again below form after 6 months off when fifth of 8 in Darley Stakes at Newmarket (9f) 5 weeks ago. This is just his second all-weather start.

Form: 24-3095

(2)

Tyrrhenian Sea²⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 108| C| D

8/1

Course winner on New Year's Eve last year. Ran pretty well when 2¾ lengths third of 6 to Military Order in Winter Derby at Southwell (11.1f, 9/2) 8 months ago and not seen since. Considered provided he's ready to roll (runner-up in this last year).

Form: 27021-3

(4)

Platoon⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mulrennan| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 105| BF

66/1

Won on debut at Leopardstown in August. 9/4, much improved when length third of 9 to Bellezza in Diamond Stakes at Dundalk (10.7f) just over 7 weeks ago. Has since left Aidan O'Brien (18,000 gns) and interesting to see what the market makes of him.

Form: 13

Forecasts

Dubai Honour (13/8), Peace Man (11/4), The Foxes (9/2), Tyrrhenian Sea (8/1), Daysofourlives (17/2), Swing Vote (25/1), Sir Busker (28/1), Claymore (33/1), Savvy Victory (66/1), Platoon (66/1)

A tricky start to proceedings but the suggestion is PEACE MAN, who has taken his form up a notch since returning this autumn and can makes amends for his nose defeat at Newmarket a fortnight ago. The globetrotting Dubai Honour found just one too good in a German Group 1 when last seen in September, so he heads up the opposition back in his usual tongue tie, with Tyrrhenian Sea and Sir Busker another couple fancied to be in the mix, too.