Pace / Draw:
Plenty of pace options: Slipper Time, Forever My Prince, and Golden Redemption all like to be prominent, while Morte Point and Queue Dos sit handy. Hold-up sorts (The Hare Rail, Mr Ubiquitous) may need the race to collapse. Draw bias at Newbury’s straight 7f tends to be mild, but middle-to-high often favoured when field size is 12+.
Strongest Contenders
- Golden Redemption (Balding/Murphy) – Proven
Improved since switching yards, very strong 7f runs here and at York. Looks progressive again, mark workable (80), Murphy an asset. Notebook: happier up in trip, today’s setup ideal. - Isabella Castile (Channon) – Progressive
Newbury 2nd latest showed she’s competitive off 78, consistent profile, likely still more to come at 7f. Wide draw 12 isn’t a disaster if they go hard. - Mythical Composer (Cox/Ryan) – Solid but Exposed
Effective at both 6f and 7f, best RPR 91, but hasn’t always seen 7f out strongly. Better with pace to chase. - Law Of Design (Meehan/Stott) – Interesting
Eyecatching quotes from trainer (“proper horse”), lightly raced, blinkers clearly sharpened him last time. Ground/trip okay, potential improver despite patchy record.
Main Dangers
- I Maximus (Hughes/Buick) – Unreliable but Capable
Patchy but has talent, strong-finishing Lingfield run (7f) reads well. Buick up signals intent. Needs to settle. - Morte Point (Muir/Grassick) – Shaping well in 6f handicaps, latest close 2nd at Leicester suggests 7f could unlock more. Unexposed type.
- The Hare Rail (Teal/Crowley) – Still a maiden but knocking on the door, good Sandown 2nd latest, finishing effort strong. Trip ideal.
Interesting Outsiders
- Slipper Time (Candy) – Just got up in maiden last time, still green, might improve again but big ask against hardened handicappers.
- Mr Ubiquitous (Eustace) – Won three on the spin in lower grades, found out in C4 at Ascot, may now be in grip of handicapper.
- Queue Dos (Moore) – Game filly, good runs at Chester/Windsor, but more effective on AW and vulnerable off 74.
Runner Ratings (Suitability out of 10)
- Golden Redemption – 9/10 (strong C&D form, progressive, right setup)
- Isabella Castile – 8/10 (consistent, still improving, needs a bit of luck from draw)
- Mythical Composer – 7/10 (solid, but not much hidden upside)
- Law Of Design – 8/10 (dangerous if bouncing back, trainer bullish)
- I Maximus – 7/10 (talented but unpredictable)
- Morte Point – 7/10 (interesting improver, may relish 7f)
- The Hare Rail – 7/10 (maiden but form suggests a win is near)
- Slipper Time – 6/10 (raw, scope, but up against it)
- Queue Dos – 5/10 (tries hard but better on AW)
- Mr Ubiquitous – 6/10 (good season but mark looks tough now)
- Excellent Echo – 5/10 (Leicester win a bit flattering, vulnerable)
- Forever My Prince – 6/10 (tries hard, but maybe wants sharper 7f/6f)
- Jr Climbs – 7/10 (figures strong at Newbury, tongue-tie helping, not fully exposed)
- Moutai – 6/10 (expensive type, shaping better, but still learning job)
Private Tissue Odds
- Golden Redemption 7/2
- Isabella Castile 5/1
- Law Of Design 6/1
- Mythical Composer 7/1
- I Maximus 8/1
- Morte Point 8/1
- The Hare Rail 10/1
- Jr Climbs 10/1
- Others 14/1+
Summary & Smart Play
A competitive 3yo handicap with several lightly-raced improvers meeting established but slightly exposed handicappers. Pace looks genuine, so a strong closer from midfield may be favoured.
Smart Play:
- Win bet – Golden Redemption (course form, progressive, Murphy booked, everything in place).
- Each-way saver – Law Of Design (trainer bullish, blinkers sharpened him, well-handicapped if putting it all together).
- Danger – Isabella Castile (consistent filly, strong Newbury run latest, live threat if getting a clear run from wide draw).
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