15:25 Newmarket

Saturday 21 July 2018

All14:1514:4515:2516:0016:3517:1017:40

Smarkets Handicap

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 1m 12.59s

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Selected odds by:

(2)

Syrian Pearl²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Fran Berry| T: C F Wall| OR: 82| CD

16/1

Typically slow to get going this season, tends to needs a few runs, beating only one rival home in pair of starts at Windsor (6f, good) and here (6f, good to firm) last month. Remains 3lb above previous winning mark and needs to show some form.

Form: 6541-96

(6)

Englishman³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: F Norton| T: J M Bradley| OR: 80| D

8/1

Winner at Windsor and Goodwood earlier in the season over this trip, denied hat-trick Class 2 fare at this track in June. Ran well enough since at Windsor without threatening to win. Eased 1lb in the ratings now. Can be competitive.

Form: 0-01198

(7)

Zain Hana²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: R Havlin| T: J Noseda| OR: 80| D

7/2

Shamardal filly, cost 320,000 gns at the breeze-ups. Won well on debut last year at Yarmouth (6f, good to firm) on her only start. Too fresh here in the Nell Gwyn on reappearance and disappointing favourite at York (1m, good to firm) since.

Form: 1-05

(8)

Mr Wagyu^v⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Cameron Noble⁽⁵⁾| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 80| BF| D

15/8

Winner of three of his last five starts, all over this 6f trip on good/good to firm ground. Held in third (one-paced) at Chester most recently from this mark but will remain competitive seemingly.

Form: 311313

(3)

Mount Wellington^p³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: D C Costello| T: H Spiller| OR: 76| D

25/1

Invincible Spirit gelding, formerly trainer by Aidan O'Brien. Winner of minor event at Wolverhampton on AW in December on first start for this yard over the trip, disappointing in three starts since including two on turf last month. Bit to prove.

Form: 451-777

(4)

Chez Vegas⁷⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon| OR: 70| D

16/1

Winner of 6f Doncaster maiden in May 2016, one of four starts in the early the part of that season. Not sighted for 756 days and surely going to need this run. Watching brief seems safest.

Form: 4815/

(1)

Meshardal^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: David Egan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 67| D

7/2

Now eight-years-old and running some decent races this season without winning. Won four times in 2017 and has now dropped 7lb below most recent winning mark. Went very close here last month, respected.

Form: 643345

(5)

Tawaafoq^h²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: P Cosgrave| T: M Quinn| OR: 65| D

10/1

AW winner at Lingfield in April and followed up with two sounds runs on turf, winning narrowly over 5½f at Brighton in early June. Held back there since in this grade. Needs something extra to land this.

Form: 451215

Forecasts

Mr Wagyu (15/8), Zain Hana (7/2), Meshardal (7/2), Englishman (8/1), Tawaafoq (10/1), Chez Vegas (16/1), Syrian Pearl (16/1), Mount Wellington (25/1)

Zain Hana was too fresh here in the Nell Gwyn in the spring and appeared to find a mile beyond here at York in one start since. She was a winner in one start over this trip last season and could have plenty more to offer dropping in distance. Mr Wagyu has been in super form this season, with three wins, and ought to be in the firing ling again but this might go the way of MESHARDAL. He won three times last summer and was just edged out at this venue last month. He is now 7lb below his previous winning mark and capable of striking if putting his best foot forward. The admirable Englishman is not one to ignore.