Racecards
16:05 Newbury
Betfair Handicap (Class 5)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f 6y
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Form 4370-44
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer C Hills
- Jockey James Doyle
in touch, hard driven and hung left form over 2f out, soon no impression
Pactolos Way
17- Form 65210-7
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer P R Chamings
- Jockey V Slattery
in touch, hard ridden over 3 out, weakened 2f out
Snark (IRE)
81- Form 4074-46
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 70
mid-division, ridden 4f out, weakened 3f out, (saddle slipped)
- Form 3514/90
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey G Baker
chased leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened 3f out
- Form 006550-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer Eve Johnson Houghton
- Jockey S Carson
tracked leader, led going well 2f out, driven out
- Form 507158-
- Age 7
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 68
slowly into stride, behind, headway over 1f out, driven and stayed on inside final furlong
Pentasilea
18- Form 56-1
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer H J L Dunlop
- Jockey J Quinn
held up in mid-division, pushed along 4f out, no headway final 2f
- Form 554112
- Age 8
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer M D I Usher
- Jockey J P Spencer
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, no impression well inside final furlong
The Composer
220- Form 637406-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer M Blanshard
- Jockey S J Drowne
held up towards rear, driven 3f out, stayed on same pace final 2f
- Form 84646-0
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer A P Jarvis
- Jockey L Dettori
keen hold tracking leaders, ridden to chase winner 2f out, driven and stayed on inside final furlong, always just held
- Form 14-0894
- Age 6
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer Mouse Hamilton-fairley
- Jockey T Block
held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, hung left from over 1f out, stayed on to take 3rd inside final furlong, finished well
Jamaahir (USA)
377- Form 7/76-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer S Lycett
- Jockey Richard Hughes
led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakening entering final furlong
- Form 2-33704
- Age 4
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey L P Keniry
always towards rear
Stravara
39- Form 378-408
- Age 4
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 57
- Trainer R Hollinshead
- Jockey M Geran
held up in rear, driven along on outside 3f out, soon beaten
Musango
14- Form 5-52153
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer B R Johnson
- Jockey R Smith
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
A hard race to call and off a shortlist that includes Pentasilea, Scottish River and Trans Sonic, we side with the last named. Alan Jarvis' charge is hardly unexposed but he did show evidence of ability on a similar surface at Pontefract and having had a pipe opener this year, he can be expected to have come on for the run. Pentasilea won well on British debut at Wolverhampton. The run confirmed some promise during his Irish career so it remains to be seen as to whether the handicapper has got it right. Scottish River has been running well on the all-weather although it is a surprise to see regular rider, Hayley Turner jocked off by Jamie Spencer. Pactolos Way has ability but has paid the penalty for winning last season. Snark failed to land a gamble last time out whilst Dafarabad's transition to Britain has been painful over hurdles and on the level. Art Investor is off a keen mark at the present although he has it to prove on today's surface. Trans Sonic should be a fair price under the circumstances and he receives the verdict.
Formwatch
Sopran Gath (ITY) 9-1 (8-13) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, not much room over 3f out, ridden to challenge over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Indian's Feather (9-0) at Southwell 1m fll hcp (5) fbs in Apr.
Snark (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) Soon prominent, ridden 2f out, no impression on leaders from well over 1f out, 6th of 12, 6l behind Kilimandscharo (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb.
Parnassian 7-2 (8-11) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 8th of 16, 7l behind Cleaver (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Nov.
Pentasilea 12-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, led over 1f out, kept on, won at W'hampton 1m 4f mdn fll (5) pol in Apr beating Super Sifted (8-7) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Scottish River (USA) 10-3 (9-1) Held up, headway over 2f out, soon every chance, stayed on well towards finish, 2nd of 9, hd behind Scamperdale (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Apr.
Trans Sonic 15-2 (8-6) Took keen hold in mid-division, ridden on outer 3f out, soon beaten, 11th of 12, 12l behind Fregate Island (9-3) at Goodwood 1m 3f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Art Investor 8-1 (8-8) Held up behind leaders, effort over 2f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Malinsa Blue (8-7) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Musango 6-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 1l behind Sunset Boulevard (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.