19:30 Newmarket

Friday 18 August 2023

All17:1017:4518:2018:5519:3020:05

Elite Universal Handicap

Off time: 19:32 | Winning time: 2m 8.65s

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Selected odds by:

(9)

Squeezebox²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Frederick Larson⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 71| CD

3/1

9/2, career best when winning 9-runner handicap at this C&D (good) 21 days ago, bit in hand. Still looks pretty raw but he's generally been going the right way for this yard and he's worth a chance to follow up.

Form: 4-97161

(4)

Jack Sparowe⁹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Dylan Hogan| T: J Butler| OR: 65

9/2

Career best when winning 13-runner handicap (5/2) at Bath (8f, good) 9 days ago. Has few miles on the clock and longer trip should pose no issue, so looks a serious player.

Form: 3562-51

(5)

Emma Emilleen³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: David Probert| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 75

6/1

Lope De Vega filly who looked progressive prior to a sub-par fourth at Wolverhampton last time. Remains with potential switched to handicaps.

Form: 6-324

(2)

Forest Demon^p,t1¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: W Buick| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 75

6/1

11/2, respectable fifth of 12 in handicap at Chelmsford City (10f) 10 days ago. Holding form well without indicating that he's ahead of his mark, although tongue tied for the first time now.

Form: 555325

(3)

Total Lockdown^p1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: N Callan| T: Martin Dunne| OR: 66| CD

9/1

C&D winner last August but not at best this season, leaving John Butler prior to latest sixth (behind Squeezebox) here 3 weeks ago. Cheekpieces are back on.

Form: 560-866

(1)

Wintercrack^h⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: S W Kelly| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 73| D

8/1

Made it third time lucky when landing a Leicester maiden over this trip in April. Back to form in first-time hood when third over C&D last time and can't be ruled out.

Form: 0-01763

(6)

I Still Have Faith^h⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Stefano Cherchi| T: B Brookhouse| OR: 72| BF| CD

4/1

Off the mark at Nottingham last month and barely needed to improve to follow up over C&D in July. Unable to complete the hat-trick at Chepstow (third) 8 days ago but should be on the premises again.

Form: 622113

(7)

Strictly Dreaming²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: David Egan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 64

22/1

Best effort this season when second of 8 in handicap at Redcar in on penultimate start but failed to back it up last time. Others make more appeal.

Form: 570-920

Non-Runners

(8)

Bold Ribb⁶

Weight: 10-1| Age: 4

T: J Ryan J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Squeezebox (3/1), I Still Have Faith (4/1), Jack Sparowe (9/2), Forest Demon (6/1), Emma Emilleen (6/1), Wintercrack (8/1), Total Lockdown (9/1), Bold Ribb (12/1), Strictly Dreaming (22/1)

SQUEEZEBOX doesn't appear to be entirely straightforward but he's been making positive steps for his new yard and is worth a chance to follow up his C&D win from 3 weeks ago. Jack Sparowe is a danger and I Still Have Faith is the pick of the 3yos.