15:00 Newmarket

Thursday 17 April 2025

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Japan Racing Association Handicap

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 1m 36.98s

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Selected odds by:

(9)

Harper's Ferry¹⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: E Walker| OR: 100| D

7/4

Went close sole 2-y-o start and, save for finding Group 2 company too hot at Royal Ascot, he didn't do much wrong last season. That campaign culminated with an all-the-way success dropped back to a mile at Doncaster (soft) and, with the recent rain in his favour, he is a strong contender.

Form: 2/21861-

(10)

Bopedro¹⁸⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 96| CD

12/1

Winless since scoring on the other course here in July 2023 but has put in a number of good shifts in strong handicaps since, including when third in the ultra-valuable Challenge Cup at Ascot (7f, good to soft) in October. 1 lb lower compared to when taking this 2 years ago.

Form: 602030-

(4)

Brioni¹⁸⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Rossa Ryan| T: A King| OR: 94| D

11/1

Resumed progress after being gelded last summer, going close in a Glorious Goodwood handicap prior to winning one decisively at Ascot (1¼m, good to soft). Too bad to be true upped to 1½m here when last seen in October and likely to pay his way this year, albeit this trip could be on the sharp side.

Form: 207210-

(1)

Tribal Chief^t¹⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: R L Moore| T: D Menuisier| OR: 90| BF| D

17/2

Left 2-y-o form behind switched to handicaps at around 1m last term, scoring on return at Nottingham and won 3 on the bounce between August and October. Beaten ½-length by Bullet Point over C&D on final run of 2024 and, now 2 lb better off with that rival, he is a key player with Ryan Moore booked.

Form: 631112-

(2)

Bullet Point¹⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 89| CD

6/1

Promise in novice events last spring/summer and, having been gelded, he improved during the autumn, bagging handicaps at Newcastle and over this C&D in October/November. More needed having been raised 6 lb for latest success but he's in excellent hands and may well have more to offer this season.

Form: 754411-

(7)

Zain Blue²²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: D Egan| T: J Butler| OR: 85| D

11/1

Eased a little in the weights and back on the up when opening his account at Ascot last summer. Further progress when signing 2024 off on a winning note with cheekpieces enlisted (omitted here) at York (1m, soft) but has more on his plate up in class here following a 7-month break.

Form: 051351-

(13)

Noisy Jazz¹⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Harry Davies| T: James Owen| OR: 85| D

9/1

Looked good when belying odds of 25/1 on debut in a good-ground 1m novice event on the July course last summer. Failed to add to that in 3 subsequent starts and while she wasn't beaten far over 1¼m here on handicap debut on final start of 2024, others bring more compelling credentials to the table.

Form: 1635-

(12)

Hiromichi^p²⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: David Probert| T: J Channon| OR: 85| D

66/1

Dual winner of 1m handicaps during a truncated campaign last season, last seen finishing a well-held last of 9 at Hamilton at the start of July. Yet to win off a mark this high and probably best watched on this occasion.

Form: 9/14179-

(5)

Mythical Guest²⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Callum Shepherd| T: G G Margarson| OR: 84| C

17/2

Dual 1¼m winner last spring, the latter here, and produced another solid display when runner-up in 1m handicap on the July course. Struggled in the Cambridgeshire on final run of last term but now 2 lb lower and evidently goes well fresh (won on 2024 reappearance), so there is cause for optimism.

Form: 297840-

(8)

Urban Sprawl^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: S De Sousa| T: C Johnston| OR: 82| D

28/1

Back in the winning groove at Pontefract (1m, heavy) during the autumn and in good form on the AW in recent months, registering first success on synthetics at Lingfield last time. Likely to give it a good shot but, at the same time, he may find this a shade too competitive.

Form: 342821

(6)

Waiting All Night^p⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R Spencer| OR: 82| D

11/1

Form figures in 7f/1m handicaps on the July course last summer read 24121. Also performed well on the Rowley Mile during the autumn, finishing eighth in 31-runner Cambridgeshire before a creditable fourth in the C&D handicap won by Bullet Point in November. Respectable efforts on the AW since.

Form: 8443-65

Non-Runners

(3)

Skukuza³⁰¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: E A L Dunlop J: W Buick

(11)

Desperate Dan¹⁷³

Weight: 8-5| Age: 4

T: P W Chapple-Hyam J: Ray Dawson

Forecasts

Harper's Ferry (7/4), Skukuza (9/2), Bullet Point (6/1), Tribal Chief (17/2), Mythical Guest (17/2), Noisy Jazz (9/1), Brioni (11/1), Zain Blue (11/1), Waiting All Night (11/1), Bopedro (12/1), Desperate Dan (20/1), Urban Sprawl (28/1), Hiromichi (66/1)

HARPER'S FERRY ended his 3-y-o campaign on a high at Doncaster and, with the promise of more to come from the son of Lope de Vega this season, he may well prove equal to this task, despite now finding himself on a 7 lb higher mark and in a stronger race. Skukuza's wellbeing has to be taken on trust following the best part of a year off but he did nothing wrong in 2024 and remains of interest, while Tribal Chief, who is taken to reverse November's C&D placings with Bullet Point, also has claims.