16:50 Newmarket

Saturday 12 August 2023

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:50

Molson Coors Handicap

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 1m 38.25s

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Selected odds by:

(4)

Sceptic³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Callum Hutchinson⁽³⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 92| BF| D

6/1

AW maiden winner who continued theme of race-by-race progress to make third start in handicaps a winning one at Goodwood (1m) in June. Sandown effort thereafter was disappointing but 5-week break could well see him bounce back.

Form: 4-16410

(2)

Naxos^h⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: K Shoemark| T: G Boughey| OR: 88| D

16/1

Low-mileage sort who made it 2 from 3 in AW novice events on return at Newcastle (1m) in April. Unable to make an impact in Britannia Stakes (1m) on handicap debut at Royal Ascot but eased 2 lb ahead of this and drop in grade rates a plus.

Form: 12-10

(6)

Merlin The Wizard³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 88

10/3

Off the mark at third attempt in a Kempton novice (7f) in June and built on that when scoring comfortably on handicap debut at Ffos Las (7.3f) later that month. Not disgraced when fifth in a stronger affair at Sandown (7f) since and he's still unexposed at 1m.

Form: 2-5115

(1)

Daysofourlives^p,h²⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: J Mitchell| T: M Botti| OR: 85| D

8/1

Churchill gelding who has a pretty high head carriage but produced a taking finishing effort to open his account at third attempt at Kempton (1m) in November. Clearly has plenty of ability but this looks a hot introduction to handicaps. back from 8 months off.

Form: 431-

(8)

Signcastle City¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 84

16/1

Salisbury maiden winner (at 6f) as a juvenile who returned with respectable efforts in handicaps at Haydock/on Rowley Mile. However, underwhelming more recently, never figured on back of being gelded/8 weeks off in a C&D handicap 2 weeks ago. May well be sharper now.

Form: 35-5305

(3)

Sniper's Eye⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: N Callan| T: D M Simcock| OR: 82

10/3

€160,000 breeze-up purchase who took his form up a notch on qualifying run when second to a useful sort in a C&D novice 7 weeks ago. Likely there's more to come on back of just 3 starts now handicapping and he's one to be interested in.

Form: 442

(7)

Wind In Your Sails⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 80| D

10/3

Sea The Stars filly who showed improved form and a likeable attitude to boot when landing a Thirsk novice (1m) in June. Had hopeless task from position when sixth on handicap debut at Chester (10.3f) later that month but she remains open to improvement in this sphere.

Form: 3216

(5)

Cancan In The Rain⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: F Norton| T: C Johnston| OR: 78| CD

14/1

Uncomplicated sort who doubled career tally from a 2 lb lower mark in a C&D handicap on penultimate start in June. Had soft ground as a plausible excuse for his latest Goodwood effort and overall profile suggests he will bounce back quickly.

Form: 14-4310

Forecasts

Merlin The Wizard (10/3), Wind In Your Sails (10/3), Sniper's Eye (10/3), Sceptic (6/1), Daysofourlives (8/1), Cancan In The Rain (14/1), Naxos (16/1), Signcastle City (16/1)

SNIPER'S EYE continued his theme of race-by-race progress when runner-up behind a useful Godolphin inmate 7 weeks ago (pulled clear of the remainder) and, with further progress in the offing now handicapping, he could be the answer. Wind In Your Sails remains the type to do better herself in handicaps and is feared, whilst Sceptic could bounce back from a lesser effort at Sandown following a 5-week break.