Racecards
16:30 Newbury
Blossom Hill Devon Handicap (Class 5)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f
- Going: Good to Firm (Good in Places)
- Surface: Turf
- £7,021 added
- Winner: £3,752
- 2nd: £1,116
- 3rd: £558
- 4th: £300
- Form 2-47902
- Age 3
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer S bin Suroor
- Jockey Oisin Murphy
tracked leaders, took keen hold, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no impression on winner inside final furlong, lost 2nd towards finish
- Form 876150
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer Mrs S Leech
- Jockey Rossa Ryan
held up in mid-division, ridden over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, soon well beaten
- Form 5-24562
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer E Walker
- Jockey L P Keniry
made virtually all, driven over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, stayed on well
Birthright
67- Form 6-30
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey James Doyle
led early, tracked winner until over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, stayed on same pace
- Form 323204
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer J L Flint
- Jockey William Cox
tracked leaders on inside, ridden 3f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner
- Form 78-7667
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey Nicola Currie
slowly away, in rear, well beaten final 2f
- Form 763
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 65
held up towards rear, pushed along 2f out, no headway
In depth
Verdict
RETURNING GLORY returned to form with last month’s narrow-margin defeat over today’s trip at Windsor. Saeed bin Suroor’s charge looks to have strong claims in this and is preferred to Glorious Army, who also finished second at the same meeting but that was over the shorter trip of a mile. The remainder are harder to recommend with Carp Kid and the handicap newcomers Antiguan Rock and Birthright all needing to improve as they too step up in distance.
Formwatch
Returning Glory 11-2 (9-5) Tracked leader 3f, handy 3rd until lost place as pace lifted over 3f out, rallied on outside chasing leaders 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed and not quicken near finish, 2nd of 7, nk behind Knight Errant (9-1) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Ghost Serge (IRE) 40-1 (8-13) Always behind, 11th of 14, 6 3/4l behind Perfect Hustler (9-3) at Ascot 7f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Glorious Army 8-1 (9-4) Raced keenly, chased leaders, 3rd and one pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Optimum Time (8-10) at Windsor 1m hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Birthright 12-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, weakened quickly over 2f out, 14th of 15, 23 1/2l behind National Army (9-2) at Doncaster 1m stks (5) gf in Jun.
Carp Kid (IRE) 9-2 (9-6) Tracked leader, keen, hard driven over 2f out, stayed on same place approaching final fulong, 4th of 6, 3 3/4l behind Mister Musicmaster (9-6) at Chepstow 1m hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Apple Anni (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Outpaced and always behind, 7th of 8, 9 1/4l behind Rux Ruxx (9-3) at Lingfield 7f hcp fll (5) gf in Jul.
Antiguan Rock 10-3 (9-0) Tracked leaders, outpaced over 2f out, no chance with front pair from over 1f out, 3rd of 6, 13l behind Blizzard (8-9) at Lingfield 7f stks (6) gf in Jul.