16:17 Newmarket

Saturday 9 August 2025

All13:5514:3215:0715:4016:1716:50

Close Brothers Handicap

Off time: 16:18 | Winning time: 1m 37.21s

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Selected odds by:

(7)

The Fingal Raven^b³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 91

10/3

AW novice winner at 2 who has been largely consistent in defeat this year, finishing third of 9 in 7f Sandown handicap last month. That form has been boosted and he should make his presence felt again.

Form: 3-33203

(5)

Royalty Bay²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: D Swift| T: S Spencer| OR: 89

16/1

Useful but beaten 3 lengths when third in 7f Doncaster handicap 3 weeks ago on his final start for the John & Sean Quinn stable. Others are more persuasive.

Form: 257-853

(4)

Abundance³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Rob Hornby| T: J G Portman| OR: 87| D

13/2

Took a big step forward on his first go in handicap company when scoring readily at Newbury (1m, firm) last month. Can go well in his hat-trick bid despite a 5 lb rise.

Form: 4-3311

(3)

Transparent²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Levey| T: T Ward| OR: 86| BF| D

11/4

Kickstarted 2025 with a pair of AW novice wins and has continued in good nick, third of 13 in handicap at Southwell (1m) 18 days ago. Should continue in form.

Form: 112533

(2)

Mister Winston²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Watson| T: A M Balding| OR: 84| D

11/8

Churchill colt who made steady progress in maiden/novices, getting off the mark over 7.5f at Chester (good to firm) in June. Fourth in a classy C&D handicap at the July meeting since and can make his presence felt with his sights lowered.

Form: 9-32214

(1)

Victory Sound^p⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: M D I Usher| OR: 81

80/1

7f maiden winner at 2 but has struggled in a pair of 7f handicaps this year, leaving Charlie Hills after reappearance.

Form: 1602-99

Non-Runners

(6)

Wolfpack³⁸

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: J Ferguson J: Oisin Murphy

Forecasts

Mister Winston (11/8), Wolfpack (2/1), Transparent (11/4), The Fingal Raven (10/3), Abundance (13/2), Royalty Bay (16/1), Victory Sound (80/1)

This is a slightly easier C&D handicap than the one MISTER WINSTON contested at the July meeting and he can strike for Andrew Balding. The reliable Transparent is second choice ahead of Abundance in this useful contest.