16:55 Newbury

Saturday 17 May 2025

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55

World Pool Handicap (Str)

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 1m 36.23s

(1)

Dante's Lad^t¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: W Buick| T: G Boughey| OR: 88| D

10/1

Fairly useful form on 2 of his 3 starts for Joseph O'Brien before making a winning start for this yard in a 5-runner Kempton nursery (1m) in November. Subsequently gelded and failed to make much of an impact on return at Newmarket but he still has time on his side.

Form: 3391-5

(13)

Roman Centurion¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: S De Sousa| T: J Ryan| OR: 86| D

22/1

Left 2-y-o debut form well behind when runner-up at odds of 50/1 in a soft-ground 7f Yarmouth novice in October. Further progress on return upped to a mile at the same course where he landed a maiden on very different ground (good to firm). May have more to offer now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 82-1

(8)

Nakeeb¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: R Hannon| OR: 86

13/8

Confirmed promise of sole 2-y-o start at Newmarket when runner-up on his return back there for the Craven meeting last month. Subsequently fended off an improver from the Gosden yard (pair clear of the rest) in a Doncaster maiden (7f, good to firm) and mark for this handicap debut looks fair.

Form: 3-21

(3)

Regalian⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 85| BF

5/1

Kingman colt from a good family and overcame inexperience to make a winning debut in 5-runner novice at Newcastle (7f) in February. Still looked green when third of 9 upped to a mile at Southwell the following month (gelded since) and improvement needed now moving into handicap company.

Form: 13

(9)

Rogue Diplomat¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S D Bowen| T: James Owen| OR: 85| BF

15/2

Showed plenty of dash to get off the mark in a 7f Leicester maiden last month, drawing clear under mostly hand riding. Better than the bare result when sixth of 11 on subsequent handicap debut at Newmarket (7f, good to firm) but he doesn't appear to be screaming out for this step up to a mile.

Form: 33-16

(4)

Gilet¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Edward Greatrex| T: W Greatrex| OR: 82

11/1

Nearer last than first on debut last summer but didn't finish out of the first two in 5 subsequent starts during 2-y-o campaign. Didn't run at all badly when fifth on his reappearance in a 7f Newmarket handicap (Rogue Diplomat ½-length adrift in sixth) but more will be needed in this stronger race.

Form: 22122-5

(11)

Solar Army¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: R A Teal| OR: 80

15/2

Runner-up final 2 starts of last term and went one better in a 7f Kempton handicap on return in March (first run since gelded). Lost no caste in defeat when second at Newmarket (7f, good to firm) next time, despite again not looking the easiest or rides, and merits respect with Ryan Moore booked.

Form: 7622-12

(6)

Well Enough²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Darragh Keenan| T: J Ryan| OR: 79

40/1

Made it 2-4 for Hilal Kobeissi when readily landing 7f Southwell handicap in March but subsequent debut for this yard on turf debut at Haydock wasn't overly inspiring. Roman Centurion is presumably the stable first-string.

Form: 41-618

(10)

Happy Banner³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: K Shoemark| T: E Walker| OR: 78

11/1

Continued theme of race-by-race progress when off the mark at third attempt in a Kempton novice (7f) in December. Gelded ahead of handicap debut sixth at Newmarket where he never looked entirely comfortable back on turf. Others preferred.

Form: 731-6

(12)

General Admission^v1¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 76

10/1

Runner-up twice from his first 4 starts and the step up to 1¼m appeared to stretch him switched to turf at Newmarket 13 days ago. Now back at what appears to be his optimum trip but will need to improve for the fitting of a first-time visor if he's to land the spoils.

Form: 2-4245

Non-Runners

(5)

Shameful⁵²

Weight: 9-4| Age: 3

T: C G Cox J: Rossa Ryan

(2)

Hyperchromatic²³

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: M Botti J: Marco Ghiani

(7)

Hot Cash²²

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: J Channon J: David Probert

Forecasts

Nakeeb (13/8), Regalian (5/1), Shameful (13/2), Solar Army (15/2), Rogue Diplomat (15/2), Hyperchromatic (8/1), Dante's Lad (10/1), General Admission (10/1), Gilet (11/1), Happy Banner (11/1), Hot Cash (14/1), Roman Centurion (22/1), Well Enough (40/1)

SHAMEFUL's reappearance defeat at Kempton may have been viewed as somewhat disappointing at the time but that certainly isn't the case now. Indeed, the winner went on to chase home a potentially classy colt in a listed race at Newmarket and, taking that into account, Shameful could be on a very good mark for this handicap bow. Solar Army doesn't appear entirely straightforward but he's proving consistent and is second choice with Ryan Moore aboard. The promising Nakeeb also merits respect.