17:50 Newmarket

Saturday 3 May 2025

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3516:0516:4017:1517:50

Nyetimber Handicap

Off time: 17:50 | Winning time: 1m 38.33s

(8)

Mr Baloo¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Joe Leavy⁽³⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 92| D

14/1

Had a fine spell on AW since the turn of the year, gaining a fourth victory since February when landing 10-runner handicap at Wolverhampton (9.5f) in March. Confirmed he remains at the top of his game when third at Lingfield (10f) recently but career-high mark does demand more.

Form: 131113

(15)

Mirsky¹⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: J P Spencer| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90| D

11/1

4-time winner in France. Yet to get his head in front for present yard but acquitted himself well in big-field handicaps on several occasions last season. Below best in refitted tongue tie (discarded here) at Kempton on final start in November but better expected on return from career-low mark.

Form: 528589-

(6)

Darkness^v¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 89| D

40/1

Again paid his way in 2024 by landing 7f handicaps on the July Course here and another at Sandown in September. Well-beaten returning from 6 months off when last of 7 in handicap here (7f) 17 days ago but that ought to have blown the cobwebs away.

Form: 40150-7

(1)

Sterling Knight¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: R L Moore| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 88| D

14/1

Dual winner on turf last summer who saw things out best when resuming winning ways at Chelmsford (1m) in December. Essentially holding form well on AW in recent months and likely he'll give another good account back on turf partnered by Ryan Moore.

Form: 91-5228

(13)

Crack Shot²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: W Buick| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 87| BF| CD

10/3

Useful sort who took this race from same mark on reappearance 12 months ago. Mixed bag thereafter prior to being sold out of Ed Walker's stable for 80,000 gns and encouraging return for new yard when third of 12 in handicap at Kempton (1m) 26 days ago. Interesting.

Form: 00057-3

(11)

Cogitate²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Rob Hornby| T: C Hills| OR: 86

20/1

Lightly-raced 4-y-o who ended last season with an encouraging fourth at Kempton (1m) in November and proved an easier ride than was often the case last year when seventh of 14 in handicap at Newbury (1m) on return 21 days ago and he could yet have more to offer.

Form: 5/2084-7

(7)

Dolce Courage^b,t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: C Lee| T: James Horton| OR: 83| D

14/1

Dual AW scorer at 3 yrs for John & Thady Gosden. Didn't kick on initially for new yard but made a much better fist of things with blinkers enlisted when fourth of 15 in handicap at Doncaster (7f, good) 34 days ago. Needs things to drop right but possesses scope for better on turf.

Form: 1/679-44

(10)

Great Chieftain^b²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: P & O Cole| OR: 83| D

6/1

Progressive during second half of last season, making it 3 wins from 4 starts with a determined display in 7-runner handicap on July Course on final start. Not threatened in pair of starts on AW/turf so far this spring but this drop back in trip expected to suit.

Form: 1211-00

(3)

Al Rufaa^h²¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: T Eaves| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 82

50/1

Went down narrowly from 2 lb lower mark in pair of 1m AW handicaps last summer. Shaped as if still in good form next 2 starts, keeping on for seventh of 14 in handicap at Kempton (1m) in October. Strike rate tempers enthusiasm to a degree but capable of exploiting this mark at some point this term.

Form: 002287-

(4)

Classic Encounter²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Billy Loughnane| T: G Boughey| OR: 81| D

5/2

Consistent sort who showed improved form returning from 5 months off when winning 12-runner handicap at Redcar (8f, good) 26 days ago. That race has thrown up subsequent winners and he could yet have more to offer given his low-mileage profile.

Form: 22/553-1

(12)

Waiting All Night^v1¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: George Wood| T: R Spencer| OR: 80| D

25/1

Form figures in 7f/1m handicaps on the July course last summer read 24121. Also performed well on the Rowley Mile during the autumn but he turned in a rare below-par display when tenth of 11 in a C&D handicap 16 days ago. First time visor could sharpen him up.

Form: 443-650

(9)

Longhaired General³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Joanna Mason| T: Craig Lidster| OR: 80| D

14/1

Ended last season in good form on turf and improved form when landing back-to-back 1m events on AW during the winter. Lines up here having done too much too soon when fifth of 10 in handicap at Ascot (1m) 3 days ago and better showing not ruled out.

Form: 31-1485

(5)

He's A Gentleman^v⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H Palmer| OR: 78| D

22/1

Dipped below last winning mark and bounced back to best when regaining winning thread at Wolverhampton (7f) in January. Found a 4 lb rise enough to anchor him when eighth of 12 in handicap at Southwell (7.1f) a month later and others appeal more back on turf. Visor back on.

Form: 9584-18

(14)

Charming Whisper¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Warren Fentiman⁽⁵⁾| T: P J McBride| OR: 75| D

12/1

Landed back-to-back 1m handicaps during first half of last season and comes here having performed creditably when fifth of 16 in handicap at Chelmsford (1m) 15 days ago, left with too much to do. On a good mark and promising young rider takes off a handy 5 lb. Respected.

Form: 545-595

Non-Runners

(2)

Global Skies²⁴⁶

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: B Brookhouse J: D Egan

Forecasts

Classic Encounter (5/2), Crack Shot (10/3), Great Chieftain (6/1), Mirsky (11/1), Charming Whisper (12/1), Mr Baloo (14/1), Sterling Knight (14/1), Longhaired General (14/1), Dolce Courage (14/1), Cogitate (20/1), He's A Gentleman (22/1), Waiting All Night (25/1), Global Skies (25/1), Darkness (40/1), Al Rufaa (50/1)

Successful from the same mark in this race 12 months ago, CRACK SHOT produced a solid first effort for his new yard when third at Kempton 26 days ago and, given he may well tighten up a bit for that outing, he could be the way to go under William Buick. Redcar scorer Classic Encounter and Dolce Courage are others to consider. Charming Whisper and Waiting All Night also make each-way appeal.