Third Race 7.20

THE BETSI HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 5)

for three yrs old x Total prize fund £9650

Owners Prize Money 1st £3984, 2nd £1993, 3rd £996, 4th £498, 5th £249 (Penalty Value £5050.80)

City Selections

KITTEN GLOVES showed a decent level of ability across her three qualifying runs and was then far from disgraced on her handicap debut at Kempton 19 days ago. Eased 1lb in the ratings, she might be worth siding with, although Nuthatch is likely to provide stern opposition having been narrowly denied at Goodwood last month. Never This Way could prove to be better than an opening mark of 71 and he looks best placed to chase the pair home.

Nuthatch

Leading course trainer (17-22): R Varian (30 wins from 143 runners, 21%) runs OKAMI

Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): W Haggas (9 wins from 43 runners, 21%) runs NEVER THIS WAY colours no horse st- lb Draw

Longest Traveller: NUTHATCH trained by J Osborne, Upper Lambourn, 129 miles.

1 NUTHATCH (GB) (39) 131002 CD 9-11 (1)

Br B f Expert Eye - Tanouma (USA) Saffie Osborne J

O Trebles Holford Thoroughbreds Jamie Osborne, Upper Lambourn T

B Lady Jennifer Green

TIMEFORMVIEWWon2ofher7startsandpostedbestefforttodatewhenclosesecondof4inhandicapatGoodwood (6f,goodtofirm,5/2)lastmonth.Bigplayeroffanunchangedmark.Wearsfirst-timehood. TFRHHHHH BHA72

2 NEVER THIS WAY (IRE) (23) 334 9-10 (7)

Br Ch c No Nay Never (USA) - Gravity Flow (IRE) Tom Marquand J

O Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum William Haggas, Newmarket T

B Rabbah Bloodstock Limited

TIMEFORM VIEW Thrice-raced maiden. Fourth of 7 in minor event at Windsor (5.1f, firm, 11/4) 23 days ago. Maydobetternowsenthandicapping. TFRHHHII BHA71

3 OKAMI (IRE) (24) 303

(5)

Br B g Showcasing - Brexitmeansbrexit David Egan J

O Mr Ahmad Bintouq Roger Varian, Newmarket T

B M. Phelan

TIMEFORM VIEW Thrice-raced maiden. 5/1, third of 12 in maiden at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) 24 days ago. Switchestohandicapsnowandmustentercalculations.

4 KITTEN GLOVES (GB) (19) 2523 BF

HHHHI BHA70

(2)

Br B f Bobby’s Kitten (USA) - Skinny Love Benoit de la Sayette J

O Mr Ismail Mohammed Ismail Mohammed, Newmarket T

B Linden Bloodstock LLP Dubai Racing Club S

TIMEFORM VIEW Lightly-raced maiden. Creditable third of 12 in handicap (7/2) at Kempton (6f) 19 days ago.

1lblowernowandlikelytogowellagain.

5 REVOLUCION (GB) (54) 52242-0

TFRHHHHI BHA68

9-3 (6)

Br Ch g Havana Grey - Hope Island (IRE) Kieran Shoemark J

O Team Lodge Racing Joseph Parr, Newmarket T

B Moyns Park Estate and Stud Ltd

TIMEFORM VIEW 18/1, last of 8 in handicap at Yarmouth (7f, good to firm) 54 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Makeslimitedappeal.

6 POETIC JACK (GB) (29) 0-45

TFRHHIII BHA64

9-0 (3)

Br B g Peace Envoy (FR) - Suzi Spends (IRE) Marco Ghiani J

O Mr R. Speakman Robert Cowell, Newmarket T

B Jack Speakman Al Basti Equiworld S

TIMEFORM VIEW Thrice-raced maiden. Fifth of 11 in minor event (33/1) at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 29 days ago. Makeshandicapdebut.Opentoimprovement.Geldedsincelastseen.

7 SABAH AL WARD (GB) (36) 450-03

Br B f Showcasing - Privacy Order

O Mr Noel Fehily

B T. R. G. Vestey

TFRHHHII BHA61

8-12 (4)

William Buick J

George Boughey, Newmarket T

TIMEFORMVIEW Lightly-raced maiden. 25/1 and hooded for 1st time, tongue strap on for 1st time, creditable third of 7inhandicapatLingfield(5f,AW)36daysago.Respected.

TFRHHHII BHA59

DECLARED RUNNERS 7

Hood worn first time by No. 1. Tongue Strap worn by No. 4. Hood, Tongue Strap worn by No. 2, 7.

Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No. 4, 5. Running for the first time since Gelding No. 6.

Stewards Note:

OKAMI: Following its run on 1/7/2023 it was reported that the horse reared leaving the stalls.

POETIC JACK: Following its run on 26/6/2023 it was reported that the horse ran green under pressure.

Probable S.P’s: 11-4 Nuthatch (GB), 7-2 Kitten Gloves (GB), 6-1 Sabah Al Ward (GB), 13-2 Okami (IRE), 7-1 Never This Way (IRE), 17-2 Poetic Jack (GB), 28-1 Revolucion (GB)

PLAY SMARTER

C&D winner NUTHATCH found further improvement when runner-up at Goodwood last month and makes fair appeal off the same mark here Okami and Kitten Gloves should also go well.