Racecards
13:40 Newmarket
Curtis Medical Handicap (Class 2 )
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 7f
- Going: Good to Firm, Firm in places
- Form 114435-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey K Darley
soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on
- Form 211-20
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey R Ffrench
chased leaders, driven over 2f out, hard ridden and ran on to lead well inside final furlong
- Form 1440-0
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey Richard Hughes
held up, ridden and effort over 1f out, stayed on same pace
- Form 31620-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer G A Huffer
- Jockey L Dettori
mid-division, ridden and weakened over 2f out
Intoxicating
19- Form 13-4
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer R F Johnson Houghton
- Jockey S Carson
tracked leaders, led over 1f out, headed and no extra well inside final furlong
- Form 5064-00
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer I A Wood
- Jockey J P Spencer
held up, some headway over 1f out, soon weakened
- Form 32-1
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer B W Hills
- Jockey Michael Hills
in touch, ridden and effort over 1f out, stayed on same pace
- Form 21432-5
- Age 3
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer G A Butler
- Jockey D Holland
behind, headway over 2f out, effort over 1f out, soon one pace
Ghurra (USA)
198- Form 104-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer E A L Dunlop
- Jockey R Hills
prominent, driven to challenge over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 11600-0
- Age 3
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer J M P Eustace
- Jockey A McCarthy
tracked leaders, weakened well over 1f out
- Form 0-21
- Age 3
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 87
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Paper Talk is the pick in the opener, with Looks Could Kill, Intoxicating, Coeur Courageux and Joseph Henry all worth a mention as well. This is a tricky start to Sunday's action at headquarters, with plenty of improvers on show, none more so though than Paper Talk. The Barry Hills inmate really caught the eye when making all to score over the course and distance at the Craven meeting, and that was no more than he deserved after two promising runs last season. He starts his handicap career on a fair mark and is taken to once again jump out and dominate. Looks Could Kill did not get the best of luck in running behind River Royale here recently looks sure to be in the shake-up, while Intoxicating finished fourth in a very competitive affair behind Nota Bene at the Craven meeting. He missed the break but was staying on well at the finish in fourth and will appreciate the extra furlong. Crosspeace was second in that contest but was well beaten at Sandown next time, and will be more at home back on this track so is another not to rule out entirely. Coeur Courageux won with any amount in hand at Lingfield but takes on better company this time, and topweight Joseph Henry is closely matched with Intoxicating on the respective form behind Nota Bene. All in all, it makes for an interesting contest, but we feel that Paper Talk can step up a gear to once again score over the track and trip.