Newmarket (eve) - 14th Aug

[fintron]

7.00 Newmarket 1. NR 2. Sonny Parkin - course and distance winner off 3 lb lower in June but has struggled since off similar sort of marks to this and needs to bounce back after a poor showing here over further last time out (never a threat). Different piece of headgear applied tonight. 3. Bustan - ten year old now but has failed to build upon promise of reappearance at Sandown and first time blinkers applied in attempt to sharpen him up. 4. Paint The Town Red - winner at Leicester off 2 lb lower earlier in the season over 10f, but is a distance winner too, having landed a race at Great Leighs in in June. Has failed to make much of an impact in recent runs and hoping this drop back in trip works the magic. Both wins have come under Jack Mitchell (rides here). 5. Will He Wish - another admirable veteran (13) who was beaten by just a neck over course and distance last time out by Credit Swap. Up 1 lb now and likely to be thereabouts once more. 6. Barliffey - yet to win outside of maiden company but was a respectable fourth to Shavansky off 2 lb higher at Sandown in June and handicapped to have a place claims on the basis of that. Drops back down in trip after being well beaten over further in recent runs. 7. Millfields Dream - another old boy but showed he retains his appetite by going down by short heads at Chepstow twice earlier this year. The latest of those runs was off 70, on same mark here, and likely to appreciate this step up in trip having been outpaced over shorter on last two runs. 8. Arizona John - yet to win outside of handicaps, win at Redcar recently came in a seller and makes first start for new yard here after finishing third in a Beverley seller when well backed last time out. Doesn't look amazingly well treated on return to handicaps. 9. King Columbo - course and distance winner off 4 lb lower in June but may be in the grips of the handicapper for now having been twice beaten off revised marks. Another 1 lb has been shaved off his rating here but place may be best hope again. 10. Kaolak - trainer does resonably well with small string and this one showed plenty of promise in a course maiden on debut when fourth to Delegator. Is yet to land a handicap but looks a winner in waiting and last time out was narrowly beaten here in 3 yo handicap when apprentice jockey almost dropped whip. Drop back in trip should help, although up 2 lbs in weights and up against elders. Phillip Robinson an eyecatching jockey booking, mind. 11. Gassin - has struggled to make an impact since going handicapping. Jamie Spencer rides. 12. Tevez - never won in handicap company and although this step up in trip looks warranted off the back of a staying on second over shorter at York, latest, the rise in the weights for that looks harsh. 13. NR 14. Fajita - CD winner in a claimer here in June and has ran credibly on return to handicaps since, placing over course and distance off 1 lb lower last time out. Open to more improvement and one of the more likely ones. 15. Jazacosta - another yet to win in handicap but came close to changing that at Brighton over this trip last time out, going down by three parts of a length off this mark. Up against elders here, but appeal all the same. 16. Devinius - winner off this mark at Thirsk in August (over this trip) and although well beaten here last time out off the same mark, failed to get home over that extended trip. Yard continue to churn out the winners and a big race could be on the cards with Neil Callan booked. 17. NR. 18. Dinner Date - does most of his racing on the all-weather these days and makes no appeal off the back of recent no shows and with 7 lb claimer booked. 19. Seasonal Cross - maiden after 12 runs but consistently finishes in and around the frame and beaten by less than a length on both of last two runs off this sort of mark at Salisbury then Sandown. Should go well again. Verdict Kaolak is likely to get the run of the race from a high draw but my slight reservation about him is his age as he's a 3 yo racing outside of his own age group. King Columbo is likely to dictate the tempo from the low stalls but can be a bit his and miss. He's re-united with Tom Queally, who rode when he won here in June but I'm passing over with concerns over his reliability and am taking a chance on Will He Wish. I'm amazed this horse is still in training at his age and despite the fact he flopped big style for me when I backed him at Haydock earlier in the season he gets another chance here. So many times I've heard the commentator say something along the lines of "a good effort from the old boy but just not good enough" but he ran encouragingly when headgear was ditched last time and tonight, up against several youngsters, it may finally be time to win a race of his own. 14/1 SJ, EW.