17:25 Newmarket

Saturday 30 September 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:25

Lope Y Fernandez First Foals 2023 Handicap

Off time: 17:25 | Winning time: 1m 24.91s

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Selected odds by:

(7)

Bless Him^h²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: K Shoemark| T: D M Simcock| OR: 100| D

17/2

Still a smart operator on his day, running well in big fields in the Royal Hunt Cup and the Bunbury Cup in the summer. Not seen to best effect with customary hold-up tactics deployed at Ascot last time, though this race isn't guaranteed to set up for him any better.

Form: 675407

(6)

Accidental Agent⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-12| J: Georgia Dobie⁽³⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 98| CD

17/2

Tremendous servant to connections (Queen Anne winner in his prime) and still capable of very useful efforts at the age of 9, finishing fifth in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket and beaten only 1½ lengths when filling the same position in a Chepstow Racing League handicap since. Player.

Form: 8-50055

(10)

Star Of Orion²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 96| D

11/4

Ended a 2-year losing run in 7f July Course handicap in the summer and has remained in top form since, placed in a pair of big Ascot handicaps either side of finishing runner-up at Goodwood. High draw is a minor concern but he should continue to run well.

Form: 261324

(3)

Darkness^v²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 92| D

17/2

Off the mark in this country when scoring on the July Course in the summer before running well to finish fourth in the Golden Mile at Goodwood. Not completely disgraced when mid-field at Leopardstown last time, albeit checking out rather tamely, and wouldn't be completely disregarded.

Form: 271400

(1)

Glenfinnan²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 94| D

7/2

Well suited by the emphasis on speed when gaining his first win of the year in an 8-runner minor event at Ascot (7f, good to firm) 22 days ago. That effort represented a career best but he'll need to improve a bit more again having been nudged up 5 lb.

Form: 21-4951

(4)

Bass Player^b1,t⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: David Egan| T: Tom Clover| OR: 88| D

33/1

Doncaster maiden winner (7f) on debut who quickly made up into a useful performer last term. Yet to trouble the judge in 2023, though, looking far from straightforward when down the field on the July Course when last seen. Blinkers now applied.

Form: 49-7659

(8)

Chartwell House³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: N Callan| T: W J Knight| OR: 91| D

18/1

Scored at Haydock in June and ran at least as well when runner-up there on his next outing. Produced a rare below-par effort when fifth of 6 in handicap at Epsom (7f, good) 33 days ago and others perhaps appeal as better treated at present.

Form: 641275

(2)

Catch The Paddy²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R P Whelan| T: K A Ryan| OR: 89

16/1

Ran a cracker on his first outing after a wind-op when second at York last month but disappointed when last in 6-runner event there (7.9f, good) 20 days ago, finding little. Back down in trip to take on his elders for the first time.

Form: 8-20626

(9)

Bajan Bandit²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Saffie Osborne| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 88| D

15/2

Has taken his form up a notch for his current yard, winning at Haydock in June before doubling his tally for the season at York the following month. Not quite at his best when fourth at that latter course 20 days ago but is still respected meeting his elders for the first time.

Form: 814134

(5)

Modesty^p1³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Tom Marquand| T: M Meade| OR: 86

8/1

Looked a good prospect when making a winning debut at York last autumn and showed improved form in defeat in pair of good novice events earlier this year. Again looked a bit tricky when sixth at York on his handicap debut last time and cheekpieces now go on.

Form: 1-356

Forecasts

Star Of Orion (11/4), Glenfinnan (7/2), Bajan Bandit (15/2), Modesty (8/1), Darkness (17/2), Bless Him (17/2), Accidental Agent (17/2), Catch The Paddy (16/1), Chartwell House (18/1), Bass Player (33/1)

A really competitive affair, with the in-form STAR OF ORION fancied to continue his good spell having held his form admirably in defeat since scoring on the July Course here in the summer. Veteran Accidental Agent ran well in the Bunbury Cup and wasn't beaten too far at Chepstow next time, so is another to merit consideration. Bajan Bandit is fractionally the most appealing of the 3-y-os and he can complete the placings.