15:00 Newmarket

Friday 3 May 2024

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

William Hill Epic Boost Handicap

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 1m 24.65s

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(4)

Saint Lawrence^p1¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 107| D

22/1

Snapped losing sequence following yard switch/refitted with blinkers when landing the Wokingham at Royal Ascot last summer. More than backed that up when third in Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest next time but safely held all 3 subsequent starts, including on return last month. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 01390-0

(13)

Noble Dynasty⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 105| CD

5/1

Won 3 of his 4 starts in 2022 and wasn't disgraced after 16 months off having been sent off 5/4 favourite when 1½ lengths fifth of 16 to Fort Payne in Group 3 Ras Al Khor at Meydan (7f, good) in March. Entitled to strip fitter for that outing and should be bang there.

Form: 71011/5

(6)

Thunder Ball¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Alec Voikhansky⁽³⁾| T: P & O Cole| OR: 100| D

5/1

Deservedly gained a second career win at Goodwood in October and has resumed with a couple of promising efforts, shaping well under another attacking ride when fourth of 21 in handicap at Newbury just under 2 weeks ago. Firmly in the picture again.

Form: 6D71-74

(11)

Dark Thirty¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 96| C| D

7/2

Likeable sort who won two 7f 3-y-o handicaps last season and took his form up a notch to resume winning ways after 6 months off in 18-runner handicap at this course (6f, good to firm) just over 2 weeks ago. Handicapper has nudged him up 3 lb but should go well again.

Form: 34136-1

(5)

Lethal Levi²⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 92

10/1

Failed to score last term but posted some good efforts in defeat, including when fourth of 17 in handicap at Ascot (7f, good to firm) 6 months ago. Headgear left off for his return and back down to his previous winning mark, he's not out of things if ready to roll.

Form: 557494-

(10)

Persuasion¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: J Fanning| T: T D Barron| OR: 90| D

40/1

Solid on the whole last campaign, edging down to a career-low mark before winning at Thirsk in September. Finished well held after 7 months off at this C&D (good to firm) just over 2 weeks ago and this should reveal what ability remains.

Form: 35129-0

(7)

English Oak²¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 90

7/2

Left debut effort well behind when scoring at Thirsk (1m, good to firm) last July and ran his best race tried sprinting for the first time when runner-up in a 16-runner handicap at Ascot (6f, good) in October. Returns only 1 lb higher and looks a colt to follow this season.

Form: 71382-

(9)

Love De Vega¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Oisin Murphy| T: C Johnston| OR: 87| D

16/1

In good form on all-weather this winter, winning twice over 7f at Chelmsford. Below for back on turf at this C&D (good to firm) just over 2 weeks ago so others look more appealing. Yard did win this last year.

Form: 153170

(1)

Final Watch²¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Marco Ghiani| T: W Stone| OR: 86| BF| CD

14/1

Looked as good as ever when scoring on the July course last summer. Shaped better than the distance beaten suggested on final outing of the season at Ascot in October and returns back down to his last winning mark. Always worth a second look at this venue.

Form: 821645-

(3)

Be Frank²⁹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: Nicola Currie| T: H Candy| OR: 84

11/1

Successful return in 6f Salisbury maiden last May and improved again when landing Windsor handicap the following month. Shaped as if still in top form when seventh of 16 in handicap on the July course last summer and now upped in trip for his return, he's one to follow this year.

Form: 65/117-

Non-Runners

(2)

Zouky²⁷

Weight: 8-13| Age: 4

T: P J McBride J: Rossa Ryan

(8)

Obelix¹⁷

Weight: 8-8| Age: 4

T: Miss J A Camacho J: A J Farragher

(12)

Chola Empire³⁸

Weight: 8-2| Age: 5

T: D M Simcock J: Raul Da Silva

Forecasts

English Oak (7/2), Dark Thirty (7/2), Noble Dynasty (5/1), Thunder Ball (5/1), Zouky (8/1), Lethal Levi (10/1), Be Frank (11/1), Final Watch (14/1), Love De Vega (16/1), Chola Empire (20/1), Saint Lawrence (22/1), Obelix (33/1), Persuasion (40/1)

An ultra-competitive handicap which can go the way of ENGLISH OAK, who did well under the circumstances given his position more towards the centre of the track when finishing runner-up at Ascot over 6f on his final 3-y-o start and looks just the type to progress again this season. Thunder Ball is shaping up well this term, so he may emerge as the main danger, with Noble Dynasty and course-regular Final Watch another couple to look out for, as well.