17:20 Newmarket

Thursday 9 July 2026

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Debenhams Handicap

Off time: 17:21 | Winning time: 1m 38.51s

(12)

Daysofourlives^p⁶⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: J Mitchell| T: D M Simcock| OR: 97| D

40/1

Quirky/useful handicapper in 2024. Last seen finishing well beaten in an all-weather listed race on final start for Marco Botti in November of that year. Entitled to need this stable debut following 20-month absence.

Form: 324109/

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(7)

Spanish Voice^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: R L Moore| T: A M Balding| OR: 94| CD

4/1

Back on the up when successful under a more-patient ride over C&D last time (now 3-3 at Newmarket, winning twice on Rowley Mile). Plenty of pace on so should get race to suit again (provided same tactics are adopted), and he makes plenty of appeal with Ryan Moore taking over.

Form: 187101

(8)

Hickory^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 94

25/1

Probably in better heart than this season's form figures would suggest. Caught too far back in the Buckingham Palace latest. Best form has come at Ascot, though (won Victoria Cup there last year).

Form: 212-060

(1)

Parole D'oro^t⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: James Doyle| T: M L W Bell| OR: 93

17/2

Low-mileage 4-y-o who was narrowly touched off in this race 12 months ago. Only 1 lb higher in bid to go one better, and he looked right at the top of his game behind a course specialist at Ripon in late-May.

Form: 2052-82

(3)

Ancient Rome¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: C Lee| T: C Hills| OR: 93| D

25/1

One-time smart performer who finished close third off 7 lb higher at Sandown (1¼m) this time last year. Went backwards from his reappearance in higher grade on all-weather latest, underlining he's more miss than hit nowadays.

Form: 3000-07

(10)

Sterling Knight²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: J P Spencer| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 91| CD

33/1

Well beaten both starts since winning comfortably over the Rowley Mile (1m) in May. Still 1 lb higher than when winning this race in 2024 and likely to be ridden to pick up the pieces under Jamie Spencer.

Form: 073100

(11)

Asmen Warrior^v³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Marco Ghiani| T: James Owen| OR: 91

9/2

Proved a different proposition when pulling clear with an improving, next-time-out winner at Windsor in late-May. Visor he wore that day back on (didn't fully settle in blinkers in a messy Epsom handicap latest). Well worth another chance to confirm Windsor form.

Form: 62-2320

(4)

Priapos^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S H James| T: Phillip Makin| OR: 86| D

33/1

Progressive sort. Landed a second double of his career when successful in the Carlisle Bell last time. Hat-trick likely to prove beyond him off career-high mark in better company.

Form: 12-7411

(9)

Lion Of Alba²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H Palmer| OR: 92| D

4/1

Capped progressive juvenile season with all-the-way success at Chester last August. No impact in Italian 2000 Guineas on return, but he made the most of an advantageous draw when fourth in the Britannia on handicap bow. Still unexposed and Oisin Murphy aboard for first time.

Form: 551-74

(14)

Final Night³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Ray Dawson| T: J Butler| OR: 80| D

25/1

Successful 4 times on the all-weather last season. Chased home Spanish Voice and Sterling Knight in handicaps on Rowley Mile here in May. Looked unlucky not to finish second in really competitive affair at Epsom, and he may again benefit from a strong pace to aim at.

Form: 316236

(2)

Tawajjah⁶¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Jonny Peate| T: Oli Rix| OR: 80

25/1

Well-bred son of Frankel. Off since opening his account in small-field novice at Wolverhampton in November 2024. Sold out of Roger Varian for 40,000 gns in February this year (gelded in interim). Capable new yard pitch him into the deep end on belated return/handicap debut.

Form: 7221/

(13)

Shipbourne³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 88

3/1

Bred in the purple. Impressive debut winner at Newbury (6f, heavy) last October. Built on that at the second attempt when winning a Doncaster novice (7f) on reappearance. There may well be better to come now sent handicapping over longer trip by excellent yard (smart brother Task Force stayed 9f).

Form: 13-1

(15)

The Joker²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: George Wood| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 84

9/1

Steadily progressive sort who justified support with a smooth-travelling success at Sandown (9f). A 3 lb rise looks more than fair (always holding on last time), and he could run another big race with luck in running from stall 15.

Form: 29-3321

Non-Runners

(6)

Shafdar²⁶

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: Ian Williams J: W Buick

(5)

Longlai²⁰

Weight: 8-11| Age: 8

T: George Baker J: Benoit D L Sayette

Forecasts

Shipbourne (3/1), Spanish Voice (4/1), Lion Of Alba (4/1), Asmen Warrior (9/2), Parole D'oro (17/2), The Joker (9/1), Shafdar (12/1), Tawajjah (25/1), Hickory (25/1), Ancient Rome (25/1), Final Night (25/1), Sterling Knight (33/1), Priapos (33/1), Longlai (33/1), Daysofourlives (40/1)

Given his excellent pedigree/connections, SHIPBOURNE very much looks the type to improve on handicap debut. He's narrowly preferred to Asmen Warrior, whose second on penultimate start at Windsor has been well-advertised. Newmarket specialist Spanish Voice is another to note in a competitive affair, along with progressive 3-y-os The Joker and Lion of Alba.