14:40 Newbury

Friday 18 August 2017

All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4516:2016:5017:25

Christopher Smith Associates Handicap (Str)

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 1m 40.43s

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Selected odds by:

(2)

Grand Inquisitor^p⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Fran Berry| T: Ian Williams| OR: 80| D

12/1

Very useful three-year-old but has lost his way since well beaten on all four starts for this yard. Probably better over 7f than a mile and opposable once again here.

Form: 77-9069

(3)

Young John¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: George Buckell⁽⁵⁾| T: M Murphy| OR: 80

50/1

AW winner at Newcastle towards the end of last year but lost his form a little since. Has won with cut in the ground and back down to a fair mark so can't be ruled out if he bounces back.

Form: 409530

(1)

Archie³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: P Cosgrave| T: Tom Clover| OR: 80

20/1

Only win in 14 starts came on his debut for Tom Dascombe in June, 2014, and four outings for his current trainer have not promised imminent success. Gradually sliding down the weights, but no recent evidence to suggest he is up to winning this.

Form: 67-9358

(14)

Directorship³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 9-11| J: H Crouch⁽³⁾| T: P R Chamings| OR: 79| C| D

50/1

Course winner on a very lenient mark if he can return to form but hasn't won for over two years and getting long in the tooth now. Was running well earlier in the year but gone off the boil since and looks opposable.

Form: 88-2205

(15)

Exceeding Power⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Dane O'Neill| T: M R Bosley| OR: 78| D

25/1

Never won off a mark this high and all his best efforts have come on fast ground or the AW. Hard to fancy in a race as competitive as this.

Form: 341418

(16)

Kingston Kurrajong^p²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Kieren Fox| T: M J Attwater| OR: 78| D

16/1

Has shaped like a return to form is imminent on recent starts and only just beaten at Sandown in good to soft ground last time. Certainly on a lenient mark if anything like back to his best and remains on the same mark as his run last time out.

Form: 588332

(12)

Harlequin Striker²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: R Winston| T: D K Ivory| OR: 78| C| D

20/1

Needs cut to be seen to maximum effect so should enjoy conditions here but has work to do to turn the form around with Kingston Kurrajong from last time out and only 1lb better off.

Form: 7-84344

(4)

Cricklewood Green⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Mitch Godwin⁽⁵⁾| T: S Kirk| OR: 77| C| D

7/1

Benefited by being held up in a strongly run race at Ascot two starts back, staying on strongly in the closing stages and denied a clear run last time out at Brighton. Fair amount of pace on here so should get conditions to suit and gives the impression he's capable off this mark.

Form: 906914

(7)

Pursuing Steed²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: H Morrison| OR: 79| C

9/2

Has really found his form since joining this yard and arrives here in search of his fifth win on the spin. Signs the handicapper was catching up with him last time but step up in trip could unlock more improvement. Will enjoy any pace that's on and expected to be finishing strongly at the finish.

Form: 7-81111

(6)

Dragons Voice²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: R Kingscote| T: P Hide| OR: 78| D

11/2

Seemingly improved for a break and a switch to turf and justified favouritism at Windsor (1m good to soft) in impressive fashion last month. Connections elected to bypass a Sandown contest under a penalty and have been rewarded with just a 4lb rise, but this race is a grade higher than he's tackled so far.

Form: 6-63131

(9)

Cadeaux Boxer^h²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Fahy| T: Martin Smith| OR: 72

33/1

Still a maiden after nine starts but only just denied in what would have been a 50/1 shock at this course last month. Failed to build on that last time though and needs to improve for the step up in trip.

Form: 850-925

(11)

Set In Stone¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Rowan Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Shanahan| OR: 78| D

9/1

Won two of her last three starts and only up 5lb for those efforts. Step back in trip not certain to be ideal but proven in conditions and she gets the services of a talented claimer.

Form: 547161

(10)

Mr Tyrrell^b1¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: R Hannon| OR: 78

16/1

Maiden after 10 starts but finishing effort isn't always strong and first-time blinkers applied may help on that front. Well beaten last time though and very best efforts have come on faster ground than what he will get here.

Form: 323224

(5)

Vanity Queen⁹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K Shoemark| T: L M Cumani| OR: 76| BF| D

11/1

Nottingham winner over an extended 1m on good-to-firm ground 12 months ago. Disappointing in two starts this year but yard are in excellent form and any market support would be interesting.

Form: 3124-67

(13)

Jumira Prince^v1²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S De Sousa| T: R Varian| OR: 76| BF| D

6/1

Is putting together an improving profile and his sole success at Nottingham in June. A drop to this grade saw him go very close at Haydock last time and the blinkers he sported there have now been swapped for a first-time visor. 2lb rise won't help and yard a little short on winners in recent weeks.

Form: 0-64152

(8)

Titan Goddess²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: A Fresu| T: M Murphy| OR: 69| D

25/1

Rattled off a hat-trick last year but struggling off her revised mark of late and not the most straightforward sort. Others preferred after a disappointing run when well fancied last time out.

Form: 2240-58

Forecasts

Pursuing Steed (9/2), Dragons Voice (11/2), Jumira Prince (6/1), Cricklewood Green (7/1), Set In Stone (9/1), Vanity Queen (11/1), Grand Inquisitor (12/1), Mr Tyrrell (16/1), Kingston Kurrajong (16/1), Archie (20/1), Harlequin Striker (20/1), Exceeding Power (25/1), Titan Goddess (25/1), Cadeaux Boxer (33/1), Directorship (50/1), Young John (50/1)

KINGSTON KURRAJONG may be the one to side with in a competitive looks affair and he's one that seems to be lurking on a lenient mark. Young John shouldn't be ruled out if he can bounce back while Cricklewood Green should enjoy conditions here.