Sixth Race 8.00pm

THE ILLUMINATE CHRISTMAS BALL HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 4)

for three yrs old and upwards x Total race value £13000 Owners Prize Money. 1st £5291, 2nd £2645, 3rd £1323, 4th £661, 5th £240, 6th £240. (Penalty Value £6696)

colours no horse age st- lb Draw

BETS AVAILABLE ON THIS RACE

CITY SELECTIONS YIMOU has been hard to predict over the last couple of seasons but he’s now attractively weighted and recent performances have been highly encouraging. With proven form on the surface and effectiveness at the trip, this could be the time to catch him. Top weight High Velocity is consistent and also merits consideration, while Obtain is respected following her 5f success at Wolverhampton, though a 7lb higher mark makes life tougher.

YIMOU

High Velocity Leading course trainer (17-22): S C Williams (58 wins from 424 runners, 14%) runs SHANKO Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): R Hughes (3 wins from 24 runners, 12%) runs NELSON GAY Weightwatcher: HAN SOLO BERGER won off a handicap mark of 87, his rating is now down 20lb to 67. Longest Traveller: MISS NAY NEVER trained by J J Quinn, Malton, 216 miles.

Br Breeding O Owner B Breeder J Jockey T Trainer S Sponsor

1 HIGH VELOCITY (IRE) (29) 305561 CD

Br Gr c Gutaifan (IRE) - Reflect Alexander (IRE) O Mr Saeed Manana 3 9-13 (9)

Rossa Ryan J James Tate, Newmarket T

B Mountarmstrong Stud TIMEFORM VIEW C&D winner. 3 wins from 8 runs this year. 4/1, career best when winning 8-runner handicap at Southwell (5f) 29 days ago. More on his plate having been raised 4lb. TFRHHHII BHA87 2 LUCKY AVA (GB) (33) 300140 CD

Br B f Heeraat (IRE) - Nigella O Qickco Ltd 4 9-10 (6)

Neil Callan J Conrad Allen, Newmarket T

B Mickley Stud & Joy McMahon TIMEFORM VIEW Three-time C&D winner, the latest in June. Seventh of 8 in handicap (9/2) at Windsor (5.1f, good) 33 days ago. Others more persuasive on balance. TFRHHIII BHA83 3 ASTRO JAKK (IRE) (7) 644000 D 6 9-9 (7)

Br B g Zoffany (IRE) - By The Edge (IRE) O Harraton Court Stables Ltd Liam Wright (7) J Darryll Holland, Newmarket T

B P. Hyland & C. & J. Mchale TIMEFORM VIEW Eighth of 9 in handicap at Southwell (5f, 50/1) 7 days ago and he’s hard to warm to at present. TFRHIIII BHA82 (-3)

4 NELSON GAY (IRE) (5) 554062 D 4 9-8 (5)

Br B g Mehmas (IRE) - Rublevka Star (USA) O Mr R Gander & Partner

Adam Kirby J Richard Hughes, Upper Lambourn T B Gerard Mullins The Garden Cider Company Ltd S TIMEFORM VIEW Blinkered for 1st time, creditable second of 8 in handicap at this course (6f, 9/1) 5 days ago. Very much the one to beat back at 5f off the same mark. TFRHHHHH BHA81 (+1) 5 MISS NAY NEVER (IRE) (13) 650510 D

Br B f No Nay Never (USA) - Desert Sky (IRE) O The Wild Rovers 4 9-7 (1)

Jason Hart J John Quinn, Malton T B Lynch Bages JJ Quinn Racing Ltd S TIMEFORM VIEW 19 lengths last of 18 to Gale Force Maya in listed race at Ayr (5.5f, good, 100/1) 13 days ago, finding little. This is more realistic and she’s in with an each-way shout. TFRHHHII BHA80

6 OBTAIN (GB) (26) 210431 D Br B f Oasis Dream - Facilitate 3 9-6 (10)

Kieran O’Neill J

O New Star Partnership

Alice Haynes, Newmarket T B Juddmonte Farms Ltd Colourpin S TIMEFORMVIEWTwowinsfrom6runsthisyear.Blinkeredfor1sttime,careerbestwhenwinning10-runnerhandicapatWolverhampton(5.1f,7/1) 26 days ago, keeping on well. More needed up 7lb in a higher-grade handicap, but couldn’t rule out all the same. TFRHHHII BHA80

7 SHANKO (GB) (16) 030665 CD 3 9-5 (4)

Br B g Oasis Dream - Beach Bunny (IRE) O Opulence Thoroughbreds

Ray Dawson J Stuart Williams, Newmarket T B Skymarc Farm Opulence Thoroughbreds S TIMEFORM VIEW C&D winner. 25/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, creditable fifth of 10 in handicap at Yarmouth (5.2f, good) 16 days ago. Looks vulnerable. TFRHHIII BHA79

Alistair Rawlinson J Robert Cowell, Newmarket T B Troy Cullen Al Basti Equiworld S TIMEFORM VIEW C&D winner. 16/1, last of 7 in handicap at Bath (5f, good to firm) 85 days ago. Risky proposition at present. TFRHHIII BHA77 9 THE DEFIANT (GB) (16) 353120 D

Br B g Morpheus - Killer Class O Mrs Linda Chester 6 9-1 (2)

Joshua Bryan J Daniel Steele, Henfield T B Mr Frank Brady Brady & Gallagher (1999) Ltd S TIMEFORM VIEW Four wins from 14 runs this year. Latest win at Lingfield in August. 8/1, last of 10 in handicap at Yarmouth (5.2f, good) 16 days ago and will probably find a few too good once more. TFRHHIII BHA74 10 YIMOU (IRE) (9) 450352 D

Br B g Kodiac - Heroine Chic (IRE) O Mr K. T. Ivory B Alexander Bloodstock 7 8-12 (11)

Charlie Bennett J Dean Ivory, Radlett T

TIMEFORM VIEW Twenty-three runs since last win in 2020. 5/1, creditable second of 11 in handicap at Lingfield (6f, AW) 9 days ago. Enters calculations. TFRHHHHI BHA71 (+1) 11 HAN SOLO BERGER (IRE) (16) 046646 D

Br B g Lord Shanakill (USA) - Dreamaway (IRE) O Mrs B. Berresford B Irish National Stud 7 8-8 (3)

Saffie Osborne (3) J Robert Cowell, Newmarket T Bermar S TIMEFORM VIEW Sixth of 10 in handicap (6/1) at Yarmouth (5.2f, good) 16 days ago. Blinkers on 1st time and will be a threat if he puts his best foot forward. TFRHHHII BHA67

DECLARED RUNNERS 11 2021: LIPSINK (IRE) 4 9 2 Grace McEntee 50-1 (Robert Cowell) 10 ran Blinkers worn first time by No. 11. Blinkers worn by No. 3, 4. Tongue Strap worn by No. 9. Blinkers, Tongue Strap worn by No. 6. Visor, Tongue Strap worn by No. 7. Stewards Note: ASTRO JAKK: Following its run on 22/9/2022 it was reported that the horse was outpaced. NELSON GAY: Following its run on 24/9/2022 it was reported that the horse ran too freely. YIMOU: Following its run on 20/9/2022 it was reported that the horse lost a shoe.

Probable S.P’s: 4-1 Nelson Gay (IRE), 11-2 High Velocity (IRE), 6-1 Obtain (GB), 7-1 Yimou (IRE), 17-2 Miss Nay Never (IRE), 9-1 Han Solo Berger (IRE), 12-1 Lucky Ava (GB), 16-1 The Defiant (GB), 22-1 Shanko (GB), 28-1 Autumn Flight (IRE), 80-1 Astro Jakk (IRE)

PLAY SMARTER Having returned to form with blinkers replacing cheekpieces over 6f here recently, NELSON GAY is likely to prove a tough nut to crack. Indeed, dropping back to the minimum trip looks a good move and he remains 3lb below his last winning mark. Last-time-out winners High Velocity and Obtain are bound to attract support, but bigger threats may be posed by Yimou and Miss Nay Never.

TIMEFORM PREDICTION: 1.NELSON GAY (IRE) 2.YIMOU (IRE) 3.MISS NAY NEVER (IRE)

RACE RESULT TIME:

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