14:25 Newbury

Friday 18 July 2025

All14:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

talkSPORT Handicap (Str)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 1m 39.19s

(6)

Bownder²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Olivia Tubb⁽⁵⁾| T: J G Portman| OR: 70| D

11/2

Opened account for the season when scoring at Goodwood (9.9f) in June, before unsuited by the steady gallop when last of 4 at Windsor (10f, good to firm) 25 days ago. Could bounce back returned to this shorter trip.

Form: 275414

(1)

Geo^p¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 70| C

13/2

Made a winning handicap debut at this course (7f) last summer and returned to form when fifth of 14 over C&D in June. Backed up that effort when filling the same position in 8-runner contest here (good to firm) 15 days ago and she enters calculations.

Form: 18-0955

(10)

Spirit Lead Me^h¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Finley Marsh| T: R Hughes| OR: 70| D

20/1

Dual all-weather winner last year and was in the process of running better than for a while when finishing eighth of 13 at Ffos Las (8f, good to soft) 18 days ago, badly hampered over 1f out. Is on a handy mark tried in hood for the second time.

Form: 3-68608

(3)

Darn Hot Mystery⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: R Havlin| T: H Candy| OR: 70

6/1

Ran to a fair level when making the frame all 3 starts last year. However, after 7 months off she finished well beaten on handicap/turf debut at Nottingham (8.3f, good) in May. Remains early days but has work to do after her latest effort.

Form: 324-9

(9)

Earthwatch²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 68

7/2

No better than mid-division in a trio of novices, but back down in trip he showed improved form sent handicapping when third of 8 at Newmarket (8f, good to firm) 3 weeks ago. Major player with more still to offer for his leading yard.

Form: 4653

(7)

Warrnambool³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Hollie Doyle| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 67

17/2

Promising third for Sir Mark Prescott on debut and ran to similar level sent handicapping on first 2 starts for current yard this season, both outings over 7f at Kempton. Lesser effort at Goodwood (9.9f, good to firm) last time, but the drop back in trip may help.

Form: 309-459

(8)

Nakaaha^h¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: D Egan| T: G Harris| OR: 67

33/1

Placed twice in her qualifying runs before disappointing on handicap debut at Leicester (8.2f, good to firm) in May. With hood applied on first run since leaving James Tate, lost all chance at the start when down the field at Ffos Las 19 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 52-370

(2)

Thiscouldbefun⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Billy Loughnane| T: J S Moore| OR: 66| D

9/1

Finally off the mark at Bath (8f, firm) in April but hasn't been able to match that form in 2 starts since, though did get trapped wide early when seventh of 9 at Windsor (8.1f, good) when last seen in May. More needed.

Form: 23-3157

(4)

Dollyana³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 66

8/1

Winner of a Ffos Las novice (7.4f) on third start but hasn't gone on from that effort since, running one of her lesser races when eleventh of 14 in handicap at this C&D (good to firm) last month. Others preferred.

Form: 760-750

(5)

Lady Of The Isles²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Rossa Ryan| T: H Main| OR: 60

15/2

After 8 weeks off, took a small step forward on her qualifying run when fourth of 14 in maiden at Windsor (8.1f, good to firm) 25 days ago. Further improvement required, but she's one to note as she goes handicapping.

Form: 0-64

Non-Runners

(11)

Sonic Pioneer²⁵

Weight: 9-8| Age: 3

T: Jack Morland J: Daniel Muscutt

Forecasts

Earthwatch (7/2), Bownder (11/2), Darn Hot Mystery (6/1), Geo (13/2), Sonic Pioneer (7/1), Lady Of The Isles (15/2), Dollyana (8/1), Warrnambool (17/2), Thiscouldbefun (9/1), Spirit Lead Me (20/1), Nakaaha (33/1)

This could go the way of EARTHWATCH, who took a step forward on handicap debut when third at Newmarket last time and can build on that effort to open his account. Heading the list of dangers is course-winner Geo, who has bounced back to form at this venue on her last 2 starts, while Spirit Lead Me is interesting having shown better signs on his latest outing.