16:55 Newbury

Friday 14 May 2021

All13:1513:5014:2514:5515:2515:5516:2516:55

Casumo Proud Sponsors Of Reading FC Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 16:57 | Winning time: 1m 43.02s

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Selected odds by:

(9)

Tindrum²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Joe Williamson| T: H Main| OR: 75

18/1

Made successful handicap debut at Sandown last August and shaped as if needing the run after 6 months off when well held in handicap at this course (10f, good, 33/1) 26 days ago. Step forward needed.

Form: 76176-0

(10)

Sword Beach^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Callum Hutchinson| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 75| BF| D

13/2

Encouraging third at Leicester on reappearance but ran poorly for no obvious reason when tailed-off last at Beverley since. Cheekpieces go back on and he needs to put that effort behind him.

Form: 4338-37

(2)

Espresso Freddo^v⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Harry Burns| T: R Stephens| OR: 75| D

15/2

Held his form pretty well on the all-weather this albeit only fifth of 9 in handicap (9/1) at Kempton (7f) 9 days ago. May need further respite from the handicapper.

Form: 2-34545

(13)

Sweet Reward³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Luke Catton| T: J G Portman| OR: 74| C

17/2

Course winner last August but having attracted support, looked rusty after 6 months off when fifth at Wolverhampton on return. Likely to be much closer to form with that under his belt.

Form: 31267-5

(11)

Blackcastle Storm³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Tyler Heard| T: R Hughes| OR: 73

3/1

Winner at Southwell early last year and having been gelded, returned with a respectable second after 6 months off at Windsor last month. Leading claims if stepping forward from that.

Form: 64944-2

(3)

Bronze River^e/s1,h²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Owen Lewis⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Teal| OR: 72| D

12/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2019 but he's had excuses on his last 2 outings, again doing too much too soon at Windsor 25 days ago. Eyeshields go on for the first time and he may yet do better.

Form: 430-588

(5)

Coverham²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: George Bass| T: Harry Eustace| OR: 71| D

11/2

Gave his young trainer a first winner in his own name when taking advantage of a drop in the weights to score at Yarmouth 24 days ago. 7 lb rise makes it tougher but he should remain competitive.

Form: 55-4551

(14)

Sir Plato^v¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: S M Mooney⁽⁵⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 71| D

16/1

Stepped up on his reappearance and added to his good Chepstow record in the process when scoring there a fortnight ago, leading over 1f out and forging clear. Not ruled out up 5 lb.

Form: 7738-71

(6)

Spirit Warning^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Marie Perrault⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 70| D

16/1

Little impact following a breathing operation on all 3 starts this year, including when well beaten in first-time cheekpieces at Lingfield 15 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 700-858

(7)

Madame Peltier¹²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Saffie Osborne| T: C Fellowes| OR: 70| BF| D

11/1

Scored twice on the all-weather towards the back end of last year but has shown little in both starts since, finishing ninth at Lingfield when last seen in January. More needed.

Form: 9/4118-9

(8)

Roundel^t³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Ellie Mackenzie| T: M R Bosley| OR: 66

18/1

Still a maiden but having slipped down to a workable mark, ran creditably on first outing since leaving David O'Meara after 4 months off/after a breathing op when third at Chelmsford last month.

Form: 23446-3

(12)

Ascraeus²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Aled Beech| T: Mrs L J Mongan| OR: 56

40/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2020. Again ran poorly when eighth of 9 in handicap (100/1) at Lingfield (10f, AW) 23 days ago. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 2-77778

(4)

Order Of St John^p³²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Gavin Ashton| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 55

50/1

Fair maiden over 6f/7f for Philip Makin. Tailed off on hurdle debut for new yard and similar story back on the Flat at Winsdor last month. Plenty more needed.

Form: 55600-0

Non-Runners

(1)

Enough Already¹⁵

Weight: 9-13| Age: 5

T: L Carter J: Katherine Begley

Forecasts

Blackcastle Storm (3/1), Coverham (11/2), Sword Beach (13/2), Espresso Freddo (15/2), Sweet Reward (17/2), Madame Peltier (11/1), Bronze River (12/1), Enough Already (14/1), Sir Plato (16/1), Spirit Warning (16/1), Tindrum (18/1), Roundel (18/1), Ascraeus (40/1), Order Of St John (50/1)

A tricky closer which can go the way of BLACKCASTLE STORM, who ran creditably after 6 months off when finishing runner-up at Windsor and holds strong claims of going one better with that under his belt. Sword Beach heads the dangers back in cheekpieces provided he can put a below-par effort behind him, ahead of Coverham and Sir Plato.