Racecards
18:20 Newbury
Pump Technology Apprentice Handicap (Class 5)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 1m 3f 5y
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £4,000 added
- Form 10716-5
- Age 5
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Flint
tracked leaders, effort on inside 3f out, not quite pace to challenge over 1f out, kept on one pace
- Form 57050-5
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 67
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, led 1f out, gradually drew clear inside final furlong
- Form 5/5200-3
- Age 4
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer C R Egerton
- Jockey R J Rowe
slowly into stride, held up, ridden 3f out, no impression final 2f
- Form 07-6971
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 63
tracked leader, led over 5f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, kept on same pace
- Form 2-04134
- Age 6
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 58
- Trainer M Wellings
- Jockey Martin Lane
in touch, brief effort behind leaders over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened well over 1f out
- Form 469039
- Age 6
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 55
- Trainer W M Brisbourne
- Jockey William Carson
in touch, effort 3f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out
- Form 146363
- Age 7
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 52
- Trainer W M Brisbourne
- Jockey Saleem Golam
towards rear, headway to chase leaders 3f out, no impression over 1f out on leading pair, kept on to take 3rd inside final furlong
- Form 982235/
- Age 9
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 50
- Trainer J Pearce
- Jockey Simon Pearce
steadied start, held up in rear, headway on outside to chase leaders 2f out, ridden and effort well over 1f out, no extra and weakened final furlong
- Form 874851
- Age 7
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 48
- Trainer M J Attwater
- Jockey Kieren Fox
mid-division, headway to lead over 2f out, ridden and headed 1f out, one pace final furlong
- Form 8580-97
- Age 5
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 45
- Trainer J J Bridger
- Jockey D Heslop
led to over 5f out, kept on until weakened from 4f out
Verdict
Safari Journey is capable of taking a hand in the finish here and has every chance if able to reproduce his hurdles form but Philip Hobbs has been struggling for winners of late and a safer option looks to be SINBAD THE SAILOR, who gets the vote over Smooth As Silk. Charlie Egerton's filly ran much better at Kempton last time when a close third behind Mixing and she would have every chance if able to reproduce a similar level of form on turf. King Of Connacht has been running consistently well of late should again be thereabouts but is likely to be placed at best and of more interest may be Mixing. Michael Attwater's gelding was good value for his win at Kempton at the beginning of the month and he can race off a 6lb lower mark today so he has to be respected but is but is better on the Polytrack than on turf. Sinbad The Sailor showed improved form when successful at Brighton earlier this month and, with John Hills having his team in good heart at present, he can defy the moderate 3lb rise for that success.
Formwatch
Safari Journey (USA) 5-2fav (8-11) Held up in last pair, improved 3f out, outpaced over 1f out, last of 5, 3 1/2l behind Full Speed (9-7) at Chester 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Venir Rouge 10-1 (10-4) Switched left start, mid-division, switched right and effort 1f out, kept on, 5th of 15, 1 3/4l behind Norman The Great (10-2) at Newbury 1m 2f (5) gf in May.
Smooth As Silk (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Steadied start, settled in rear, headway over 4f out, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on final furlong, not pace to challenge, 3rd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Mixing (8-8) at Kempton 1m 4f (6) pol.
Sinbad The Sailor 7-2 (9-7) Led, pushed along and headed just over 3f out, stayed chasing leader, led again 1f out, stayed on under pressure, driven out, won at Brighton 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) gd beating Mick Is Back (9-5) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
King of Connacht 9-2 (8-7) Held up mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden 2f out and one paced, 4th of 8, 5l behind Laish Ya Hajar (9-4) at Chepstow 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Gamesters Lady 12-1 (9-6) Dropped out start, always in rear, 9th of 12, 8l behind Toshi (9-7) at Chester 1m 4f (5) gf.
Barbirolli 9-2 (8-11) Held up towards rear, headway well over 2f out, hung right entering final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Piverina (8-4) at Hamilton 1m 4f app hcp 0-60 (6) gd.
Khanjar (USA) 11-1 (11-4) Slowly into stride, took keen hold towards rear, headway well over 1f out, never near leaders, 5th of 12, 12l behind Hugs Destiny (10-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f Am hcp (6) pol in May '07.
Mixing 6-1 (8-8) Prominent, headway to lead over 2f out, ran on strongly, ridden out, won at Kempton 1m 4f (6) pol beating Rosy Dawn (8-1) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Muffett's Dream 12-1 (8-3) Chased leaders, led 5f out, headed over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 7th of 13, 13l behind Jafaru (8-10) at Brighton 1m 4f hcp (6) gf in May.