16:50 Newcastle

Saturday 11 July 2020

All16:5017:2517:5518:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

attheraces.com Handicap

Off time: 16:51 | Winning time: 1m 41.06s

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(4)

Canagat¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 86| C

6/4

Course winner (7.1f, slow), taking a handicap on debut in that sphere off a 3lb lower mark (showed good attitude). Below that level switched to turf last time at Haydock (8.2f, good/firm), keen may not have quite got home, still respected back on AW.

Form: 31-15

(7)

Gobi Sunset¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 85

16/1

Twice a winner at two (won on nursery debut) over 6f on quick ground (last two runs as a juvenile). Poor on his reappearance (6f) there was more spark in his last outing upped to 7.2f at Ayr (had the run of the race, finished third), first try at 1m.

Form: 4511-93

(2)

Rich Belief^p1³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Hart| T: J D Bethell| OR: 84

22/1

Given stiff task on reappearance (C&D) having gained plenty of experience as a 2yo, winning once on AW/Tapeta (7.2f). Fairly useful after that victory in handicaps without winning (tends to hang), cheekpieces for first-time (blinkers last two runs).

Form: 1D3D4-7

(1)

Yoshimi²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Barry McHugh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 84

7/2

No surprise to see him dropped to 1m (didn't get home over 1m2f last time in competitive handicap), shaped with encouragement over C&D time before (eye-catching late work). Ought to enjoy this ease in grade/return to C&D, one for the shortlist.

Form: 2123-37

(9)

Cipango³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M Botti| OR: 83

5/1

Bred to be smart (half-brother to several winners), yet to really put everything together, failed to improve for the switch to handicaps/longer trip (10.2f) last time. Still inexperienced, may do better back on AW off what looks a fair enough mark.

Form: 532-4

(8)

Guipure²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 80| CD

8/1

C&D winner on return this year once again improving on previous handicap efforts, showing a good attitude (straightforward sort). May have found race coming too soon at Redcar (1m2f, good/soft) last time, return to 1m may suit, worth another chance.

Form: 6821-16

(6)

Rainbow Jet³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J Quinn| T: J Mackie| OR: 78

66/1

Penny gradually dropped as a 2yo (runner-up last two starts at that age); upped in trip (10.2f) for return/handicap debut. Ran no sort of race on that occasion (looked laboured), returns to 1m for first try on AW, others offer a more solid option.

Form: 0522-6

(3)

High Flying Bird¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jane Elliott| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 78

40/1

Signed off 2019 with a debut win at Newmarket (7f, soft), erasing the form of her poor handicap debut. Good form on return (third to Britannia runner-up) over 1m, not in the same form last time (laboured effort), does look to have some quirks.

Form: 5231-36

(5)

War Defender²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 74

11/2

Left his humble 2yo form at up to 1m behind with an arresting return at Pontefract (1m, good) last month, finishing well after being poorly placed (finished third). Of interest on handicap debut, first try on AW, mark hardly looks lenient though.

Form: 06-3

Forecasts

Canagat (6/4), Yoshimi (7/2), Cipango (5/1), War Defender (11/2), Guipure (8/1), Gobi Sunset (16/1), Rich Belief (22/1), High Flying Bird (40/1), Rainbow Jet (66/1)

A decent opener to the nine-race card with most of these having shown their hands in handicaps apart from War Defender who certainly caught the attention with his third at Pontefract last time and looks to have more to offer now he’s got a mark. C&D winner Guipure disappointed last time but he’s shown enough in prior races to earn respect here after being given a longer break. Cipango and Canagat both have something to recommend them not least the fact that they are returning to the AW. YOSHIMI is rewarded with the overall vote easing in grade and back to a C&D that saw him finish just over a length behind the subsequent St James’s Palace Stakes winner (Palace Pier).