15:00 Newmarket (July)
Good To FirmBetway Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
- First Prize: £51540
- 0m 6f 0y
- Class 2
- 14 runners
ITV
Runners: 14 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
Form: 334143 D
OR: 101
W: 9st 9lb
Age: 3 yo Gelding
Has given superb value since the autumn, winning five 6f handicaps on the AW between October and January; even better in turf sprints since, landing a 6f handicap on the Rowley course (good to firm) and finishing strongly to take second on his side to a handicap blot in the big 5f race at Royal Ascot; rock solid to go well back at 6f.
Form: 56-338
OR: 95
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Creditable shows in 7f turf handicaps this year and the drop to 5f at Royal Ascot since (tongue tied first time) was always going to ask a searching question; however, he did as well as could have been expected in eighth of 27 and this extra furlong can only help; likely more needed, even so.
Form: 23-110 D
OR: 95
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Looked smart when making short work of his rivals in first two starts as a 3yo, in a Windsor maiden and on handicap debut at Leicester (both 6f on good to firm); a 10lb rise for the latter didn't look to be overdoing it but he was badly out of sorts when last of 27 in the big 5f handicap at Royal Ascot since (13-2); trust suspended for now.
Form: 2-1790 D
OR: 94
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Emphatic winner of handicap debut on Southwell AW (6f) in March; found Group 3 and Listed company too daunting on next two starts and he made only modest late headway into mid-division over 5f at Royal Ascot (40-1; without regular hood, as today); return to 6f should suit but the same applies to others from that race.
Form: 311-24 D
OR: 93
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Juvenile wins came in 6f novices; has more than held his own in 5f handicaps this year, doing well on the far side when fourth of 27 at Royal Ascot (good to firm), just behind Ten Carat Harry; the return to 6f can suit; better claims than some.
Form: -22112 DBF
OR: 93
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 3 yo Gelding
Has made serious progress since dropped to 6f, following an easy maiden win with an impressive handicap debut at Hamilton; ran off 10lb higher in a better York race (good) in June and he did really well to be a close second to Thunder Call who was slightly better positioned; closely matched with the winner now upped another 4lb; on the premises.
Form: 14-290 D
OR: 91
W: 8st 13lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Progressive 2yo who started the year with a good 6f handicap run on the other course (good) in April; lost his chance at the start next time but a repeat of his mid-division finish at York (6f, good) since should leave him high and dry in this company.
Form: 02-11 D
OR: 91
W: 8st 13lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Came on plenty over the winter, easily winning a 6f Kempton AW maiden on comeback, then seeing off a big field on handicap debut at York (6f, good) in June; had a certain amount in his favour there but he ended with a little up his sleeve and a 6lb rise isn't harsh for one who can improve further for this stiffer test at the trip.
Form: 251-29
OR: 90
W: 8st 12lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Off the mark in 7f AW novice in December; strong start to handicap career when runner-up to Ten Carat Harry on the other course (6f, good to firm) in May but York's sharper test in June didn't look ideal when beaten about 5l behind Thunder Call; may well do better today.
Form: 114-62 DBF
OR: 88
W: 8st 10lb
Age: 3 yo Gelding
Often leads; encouraging return on the other course but, despite being well supported, he was no match for Jazl at Leicester (6f, good to firm) in May; has work to do off 2lb higher in a race that will take more winning.
Form: 21-315 D
OR: 88
W: 8st 10lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
2-2 on the AW, at 5f and 6f; his first turf handicap run, at Bath in April, was nothing to get excited about but he showed he belonged at this level when a never-nearer fifth of 27 at Royal Ascot (5f, good to firm) in June; a big run back at 6f could be on the way.
OUR TIP
Form: 431-61 D
OR: 87
W: 8st 9lb
Age: 3 yo Gelding
Well-connected gelding; justified short odds in 6f AW maiden as 2yo; fairly ordinary reappearance but he was much better for it when winning at Windsor (6f, good to firm) in early June, coming through to beat a useful type at this level; up 4lb but can achieve more.
Form: 22-11 CD
OR: 84
W: 8st 6lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Made it 2-2 for the year when finding plenty to win on handicap debut over C&D (good to firm), albeit the next two home weren't obviously well treated; has potential but more needed off 5lb higher.
Form: 12-664
OR: 81
W: 8st 3lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
His 2yo career ended with a close second in a big-field York handicap (6f, good to firm; River Spey a hampered fourth) but this year's form, including at Windsor last time, leaves him with something to find.
Terms and conditions
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Betting Forecast
8/1 Ten Carat Harry, 14/1 May Angel, 12/1 Jazl, 25/1 Ghost Mode, 11/2 Calico Blue, 6/1 Red Spells Danger, 28/1 Advertised, 4/1 Thunder Call, 8/1 Man Of Vision, 16/1 Pilu, 10/1 Starmade, 16/1 River Spey, 9/1 Sea Cookie, 28/1 Mo Of Cairo
Verdict
There were some very good performances in the big 5f handicap at Royal Ascot from Ten Carat Harry (third), Calico Blue (fourth), Starmade (fifth) and May Angel (eighth) and they can all have cases made back over 6f. Thunder Call (second choice) almost certainly has more to come following his defeat of Red Spells Danger at York but it could pay to go with RIVER SPEY who took a serious step forward from his reappearance when winning at Windsor and he looks the type to do better yet as a 3yo.[Emily Weber]