16:54 Newbury

Saturday 12 April 2025

All13:2514:0014:3515:1215:4516:1916:54

Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 16:54 | Winning time: 2m 7.95s

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Selected odds by:

(13)

Metallo³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Rossa Ryan| T: J Channon| OR: 87

15/2

Just the one victory to his name back in summer 2023 but built a solid all-weather profile over the winter. Not quite so good at Chelmsford last month and is back on turf for the first time since his 2-y-o days. One for the shortlist with fitness on his side.

Form: 4/83-236

(5)

Westridge¹⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: K Shoemark| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 85| BF

5/1

Improved another chunk when shedding maiden tag in a Windsor novice last June. Better than result on Glorious Goodwood handicap debut at the start of August but merely matched previous form 4 months on when seventh at Wolverhampton. Off another 5 months but remains low mileage.

Form: 0317V7-

(15)

Great Chieftain^b³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: J P Spencer| T: P & O Cole| OR: 84| C

8/1

Progressive during second half of last season, making it 3 wins from 4 starts with a determined display in 7-runner Newmarket handicap (1m) in August. Might have needed the run after 7 months off at Wolverhampton recently and feasible to think he could do better yet as a 4-y-o.

Form: 31211-0

(11)

Roarin' Success¹⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: T E Whelan| T: Harry Charlton| OR: 83

10/1

Placed 4 out of 7 starts last year, including when 1¼ lengths third of 10 to Warda Jamila at Haydock penultimate start. Last seen running poorly in first-time cheekpieces at Epsom (10.1f, soft) in September so no surprise to see the headgear ditched on return.

Form: 202639-

(12)

Rockit Tommy¹⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: P R Chamings| OR: 83| D

18/1

Notched first handicap success quite readily at Kempton in October and having bumped into a 3-y-o improver next outing, quickly resumed winning ways there (12f) later that month, finding further progress even if he did have the run of the race. Has since moved yards ahead of return.

Form: 043121-

(3)

Morcar^b²⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Alec Voikhansky⁽³⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 80| D

28/1

Winner at Lingfield last summer and took form up a notch to double his tally for the year at Windsor in August, enhancing his record in small fields (won all 3 outings in races with 5 runners or fewer). Shaped like a non-stayer at latter track (11.4f) the following month and off since.

Form: 310816-

(16)

Londoner¹⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R Kingscote| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 80| BF

12/1

On long losing run and struggled to string good efforts together last season, well held at Newcastle (5f) when last seen 6 months ago. Hiked back up in distance on first start for a new yard and worth a second look in the betting for a shrewd outfit.

Form: 748020-

(9)

Sweet Reward¹⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: J G Portman| OR: 78| C| D

6/1

Course winner but it's now 13 runs since his last win in 2023. Not disgraced at this C&D (heavy) on final outing last season and begins this campaign from an attractive mark. Could be worth chancing having a rare start in class 4 company.

Form: 535744-

(1)

Lone Piper^b²⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: J Mitchell| T: Tom Clover| OR: 76| D

15/2

Seemingly perked up by first-time blinkers/an 8-week break when opening his account at Windsor (10f, good) back in September, idling late but always holding on. Forced back up in grade but will be a danger to all if the headgear works as well a second time on reappearance.

Form: 773261-

(10)

Parkland³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 75

15/2

Handed a pretty stiff-looking opening mark on what he'd achieved and failed to improve upped in trip after 9 weeks off at Chelmsford (10f) last month. Murphy on board for the first time but will need to leave previous efforts behind back on turf.

Form: 3/27-47

(2)

Expressionless^p¹⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Cieren Fallon| T: Dylan Cunha| OR: 73

12/1

Dual winner last summer but ended campaign with a couple of lesser efforts on softer ground. Makes return having dropped back to last winning mark and yard have made a good start to the year. Did need his reappearance last season, however.

Form: 271287-

(7)

Uncle Dick¹⁹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Oliver Carmichael⁽⁷⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 73

50/1

Caused a 28/1 surprise when notching a fourth win of the year at Brighton in August but was below form having a rare start away from that track when well beaten at Goodwood when last seen in September. Likelihood is he will need this before a return to the south coast.

Form: 124184-

(4)

Yokohama⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: D Egan| T: J Butler| OR: 71

12/1

Yet to add to his debut success at Newcastle back in 2023 and ran one of his lesser races at that track (10.2f) 6 weeks ago, outpaced before final 1f. Handicapper drops him 7 lb for this return to turf, but percentage call is to look elsewhere (gelded since).

Form: 7753-36

(8)

Gozo^p,t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Hollie Doyle| T: B Brookhouse| OR: 71

18/1

Runner-up first 2 starts this year but wasn't in the same form back in cheekpieces at Southwell (11.1f) last time, doing too much too soon. Headgear retained for this return to turf and will need to bounce back if he's to register a first success in this sphere.

Form: 7/75-228

Non-Runners

(6)

Vaynor³⁰⁹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 6

T: C Hills J: Callum Shepherd

(14)

Speriamo¹⁵⁹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 5

T: P J McBride J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Westridge (5/1), Sweet Reward (6/1), Speriamo (7/1), Lone Piper (15/2), Metallo (15/2), Parkland (15/2), Great Chieftain (8/1), Roarin' Success (10/1), Yokohama (12/1), Expressionless (12/1), Londoner (12/1), Vaynor (16/1), Gozo (18/1), Rockit Tommy (18/1), Morcar (28/1), Uncle Dick (50/1)

A fiercely competitive closing contest in which it could be worth taking a chance on SWEET REWARD, who wasn't disgraced over C&D on final outing last season and begins this campaign from an attractive mark (finished second in this last year from same mark). Metallo has race-fitness on his side, so he heads up the dangers back on turf for the first time since his juvenile days, with Lone Piper and Great Chieftain just a couple of others to consider, too.