Can Newbury eyecatcher overcome poor draw to land tough handicap?

Saturday: 2.00 Epsom
Cazoo Handicap | 1m2f | 3yo | ITV/RTV

The London Gold Cup at Newbury has garnered a reputation as one of the hottest three-year-old handicaps of the season and there was no bigger eyecatcher in defeat than Mr Big Stuff.

That run would have earned plenty of love from punters and despite finishing fifth, the well-backed 9-2 shot has been raised 1lb to 82 after a luckless passage in which he twice ran into trouble.

The strength of this season's London Gold Cup is yet to be truly examined, but Mr Big Stuff's form before the Newbury race reads well.

The Iffraaj colt finished a six-length third to Derby favourite Desert Crown in a Nottingham maiden last November before running second to subsequent winners Yonafis and Al Qareem.

The 5lb claimer Tyler Heard takes over from Hollie Doyle and rides for trainer Richard Spencer for the first time. Purely from a handicapping perspective he makes abundant appeal, but stall 13 makes life tougher.

Andrew Balding has captured two of the last four runnings and his representative Swilcan Bridge is the only contender with experience of Epsom. Swilcan Bridge ran third here in a 1m½f handicap two starts back and served notice that a step up in trip would suit that day.

An extra furlong and a half combined with the switch to making the running suited Swilcan Bridge down to the ground at Goodwood last time, and he almost stole a competitive three-year-old handicap from the front. He would be dangerous if allowed to dictate off a 6lb higher mark.

Another to consider is Oneforthegutter, who dips into a handicap for the first time after finding My Prospero and Reach For The Moon too strong in the mile Heron Stakes in May. While Oneforthegutter’s sire Muhaarar was a sprinter, his progeny are tending to stay well and the extra two furlongs should help.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

Cash connections seek compensation

Connections of War Horse are hoping the three-year-old can supplement his recent win at Sandown and give them some compensation for their star colt Cash missing Sunday's French Derby.

US owner Earle Mack was hopeful of landing the Chantilly Classic with the classy grey Cash, trained by David Simcock, after his second in the Group 3 Sandown Classic Trial in April.

The owner’s racing manager Anthony Burke said: “It’s nothing major but David didn’t think Cash was quite himself on Thursday morning, so decided not to declare him for the Prix du Jockey Club. It’s disappointing as he’d been working really well but it’s a long season, so hopefully he can come back. He was just a bit off colour.”

As to the chances of War Horse, who is trained by Marco Botti, Burke said: “He won well in first-time cheekpieces at Sandown and if they work again he should go close. He will enjoy the good ground, although he could be drawn better.”

What they say

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Blue Trail
He’s built up a nice profile this year and looks ready to step up to this mile and a quarter trip. He has a nice draw and we expect him to be suited by the track.

Charlie Appleby: 'Blue Trail has built up a nice profile this year'Credit: Edward Whitaker

William Haggas, trainer of Grenoble
He has a poor draw to say the least in 15 of 15, but if he jumps well he would have a chance. It would help him if it rained as he likes cut in the ground.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Oh Herberts Reign
It’s his first run over the trip, which he shapes as if he should get, and he has a decent draw in stall one.

David Egan, rider of Taj Alola
He ran well last time at Ripon and has a visor on first time, so if that works he would have an each-way shout in a competitive race.

Richard Spencer, trainer of Mr Big Stuff
He was unlucky at Newbury last time and if he gets a decent position early he would have a decent chance. We’re taking a valuable 5lb off with Tyler Heard in the plate and if they get the rain they say they might get in the morning, it will help.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Box To Box and Nolton Cross
They are two very similar types who have very similar draws, and it's difficult to split them. Harry Davies takes 5lb off Box To Box, which will prove handy, while Nolton Cross has a progressive profile.

Reporting by David Milnes

Derby day previews:

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