14:25 Newbury

Saturday 19 August 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:4017:15

Highclere Castle Gin Handicap

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 1m 2.43s

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Selected odds by:

(3)

Whenthedealinsdone^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: W Buick| T: R A Teal| OR: 87| C| D

4/1

Course winner who was well below form in a first-time tongue strap at Goodwood last time but, on the plus side, this represents a drop in grade and he's on a good mark if he can recapture his best form.

Form: 472700

(4)

Punchbowl Flyer^b³⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Charles Bishop| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 86| C

28/1

Useful handicapper at his best but failed to fire last season and fitness has to be taken on trust returning from 10 months off for a new stable (previously trained by Eve Johnson Houghton).

Form: 507766-

(1)

May Sonic²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 86| D

18/1

Capitalised on a falling mark to end long losing run at Southwell in January. Mixed bag since but ran creditably making his first turf outing in nearly 2 years when fourth of 6 at Windsor (5.1f) 3 weeks ago.

Form: 916734

(9)

Woolhampton^b²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: R Coakley| T: B R Millman| OR: 87| D

13/2

Has taken well to the fitting of blinkers and didn't need to improve to record a first success in handicap company in 7-runner handicap at Ascot (5f, good to soft, 5/1) 22 days ago, driven out. Ought to remain competitive.

Form: 875521

(5)

Katey Kontent⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Rossa Ryan| T: C G Cox| OR: 86| D

9/1

Won a couple of novice events over this trip but limitations exposed at a higher level thereafter and wasn't at her best again after 10 months off in a Sandown listed event in June. Into handicap now with something to prove.

Form: 1166-7

(7)

Fantasy Master^p³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: David Egan| T: Darryll Holland| OR: 79| BF| D

10/1

Got off the mark for the season in 10-runner handicap at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) in July, always holding on. Ran poorly in follow-up bid at York subsequently, though.

Form: 3-72610

(2)

Desperate Hero^p¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Tom Marquand| T: J Channon| OR: 80| D

4/1

Perked up by first-time cheekpieces when resuming winning ways in good style at Windsor (5f) in June and produced a career best in defeat when headed only in the dying strides at Yarmouth in July. Run best excused at Goodwood on most recent outing having been poorly drawn.

Form: 414427

(10)

Libra Tiger²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Hector Crouch| T: E Walker| OR: 73| D

16/5

Finally broke his run of seconds when winning 7-runner handicap at Sandown (5f, soft) 23 days ago, suited by way race developed. Bit below form at Windsor on Thursday, but still handicapped to have a big say.

Form: 522218

(6)

Four Adaay^b¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: B R Millman| OR: 73| BF| D

9/1

Resumed winning ways in a weak event at Newmarket in June and has remained in good form since, needing no excuses in first-time blinkers when third of 6 at Ffos Las (5f, heavy) 19 days ago. Ought to remain competitive.

Form: 541423

Non-Runners

(11)

Harry Brown³⁵

Weight: 9-11| Age: 3

T: D M Simcock J: Hayley Turner

(8)

Swift Asset¹⁰

Weight: 9-8| Age: 3

T: R Hannon J: P J Dobbs

Forecasts

Libra Tiger (16/5), Desperate Hero (4/1), Whenthedealinsdone (4/1), Harry Brown (5/1), Woolhampton (13/2), Swift Asset (7/1), Katey Kontent (9/1), Four Adaay (9/1), Fantasy Master (10/1), May Sonic (18/1), Punchbowl Flyer (28/1)

A well-run race over a stiff 5f brought out the best in LIBRA TIGER at Sandown and he still looks attractively handicapped following a 5 lb rise in the weights, despite a below-par showing at Windsor on Thursday. Swift Asset and Four Adaay are others to note in a competitive sprint handicap.