Race of the Day / Timeform / 24 September 2011 / Leave a Comment

Timeform go through the 35-strong field for this year's Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket...

Arlequin is a hold-up handicapper who showed a determined attitude when adding another win to his record over a mile and a quarter at Goodwood in July. He ran well again when second at York last time, but a 7 lb rise for that makes like tougher still.

Nanton has only managed one win since his excellent third in this race in 2009 (also second in 2008) but was as good as ever when second at Doncaster last time so there's a fair chance he could be on the premises again.

Proponent has built up a really solid record in big handicaps over the years and was better than ever when second at Glorious Goodwood last time, but he was only ninth in this last year from a 3 lb lower mark and is likely to find a few too good once more.

Red Gulch has improved since joining this yard, winning at Goodwood in July and improving again when landing a quite valuable handicap at Kempton, both over a mile. He makes the shortlist under his penalty for all he has to prove his stamina for nine furlongs.

Pintura won three handicaps around a mile in 2010. He has progressed again without winning this year, finishing third in big-field event on his two most recent starts, and it would be no surprise to see him give it another good shot.

Combat Zone is a German raider who has won nine times at up to this trip, the latest in a handicap at Hamburg in July. He looks to have plenty of weight for what he has actually achieved.

Man of Action won twice over seven furlongs for John Gosden in 2010. He has gradually found his feet for his new yard this term, winning in a visor over a mile at Doncaster last time, and is likely to go well if staying this far.

Circumvent got back on track in refitted cheekpieces in a competitive nine-furlong handicap at Goodwood last time. He has won off a higher mark in the past, so can't be discounted.

Jutland has landed a couple of mile-and-a-quarter handicap at Chester this season, but wasn't on his game at Newbury last weekend and remains 3 lb higher than his last winning mark.

Riggins dead-heated in a listed event over a mile on the all-weather on his first start for this yard in November. He is yet to fire this time round and looks opposable again despite offering a shade more encouragement on his penultimate start.

Maraheb has made most when winning two of his three starts this year, the latest a handicap over a mile at Haydock last month. Those tactics will be harder to employ in a race of this nature, while he's 12 lb higher in the weights now.

Harrison George won four times at up to a mile n 2010. He ran his first race of note for a while when fourth in a handicap at Ayr last weekend and it's possible he could figure if building on that.

Ideology is a German raider who was back to winning ways in a nine-and-a-half furlongs handicap at Deauville in August. He ran respectably back in his homeland last time, but this could prove a shade too competitive.

Constant Contact built on an encouraging reappearance when landing a mile-and-a-quarter handicap at Kempton in June. He ran well when mid-field in the John Smith's Cup next time, but a lesser run in the meantime rather tempers enthusiasm.

Questioning hasn't tasted success since making a winning debut as a two-year-old, but he delivered a smart performance when second in a listed event over a mile at Haydock last time and is well treated if repeating that in a first-time visor.

Maqaraat got off the mark on his second run back in maiden company after a fine second in the Dee Stakes at Chester in May, but this looks something of a baptism of fire for his first try in a handicap.

Sagramor has already bagged two valuable handicaps over a mile this term, notably the Britannia at Royal Ascot. He has possible excuses for a lesser effort at Goodwood last time (got upset in the stalls) and may have more to offer on his first run beyond a mile.

Credit Swap's finest hour came when getting up late to land this race in 2010 for Michael Wigham. He added to his tally over hurdles for this yard over the winter, but made a low-key return to the level at Goodwood recently and faces a tough task to stage a repeat win off 7 lb higher.

Shavansky produced a career-best when staying on strongly to win a handicap over a mile at Chepstow in July. He was back at that level when third at Ripon last month, but ran below his best at Goodwood more recently.

Albaqaa continued his resurgence for this yard when gaining a second win on the bounce in a big-field handicap over this trip at Goodwood in July. He hasn't been seen since, but remains on a good mark so has to be respected.

Markazzi got back on the up when bagging a handicap over a mile at Haydock in August. He confirmed that he's on the up when a staying-on fifth from a poor position at York last time and this trip could well prove ideal for him.

Cry Fury displayed a good turn of foot when adding another win to his portfolio over a mile and a quarter at Goodwood in August. A steady pace was no good to him when dropped back to a mile last time and he remains unexposed.

Stevie Thunder has been thriving this summer and came with a late surge to follow up his wide-margin Newmarket win at Ripon last month. He has more on his plate now, but can't be discounted with the longer trip no problem.

Tinkertown landed a handicap over a mile at Kempton in March and ran well when third in the Dee Stakes at Chester in May. He ran well from a poor position on his first start for a new yard at Goodwood in July, but a recent poor display tempers enthusiasm.

Prince of Johanne has turned over a new leaf this term, winning twice at around a mile and a quarter. He has run well in defeat on his last three starts but needs to scale new heights if he's going to land this.

Roayh is a useful sort who won twice at up to seven furlongs in 2010. He ran respectably upped to a mile and a quarter when fourth at Newmarket last month, but this is a big ask on his handicap debut.

Pendragon thrived in 2010, taking his winning tally to over six over a mile and a quarter at Ayr in September. He hasn't done too badly in handicaps this time round, but remains a shade too high in the weights.

Brick Red was progressive when landing three handicaps at up to a mile in 2010, including at this track. He hasn't gone on as expected this year, but ran creditably on his return from three months off recently and is tried in cheekpieces now.

Pires is a useful dual-purpose performer who was third in this last year. He hasn't scaled the same heights this term despite winning at Bellewstown in August and needs cheekpieces to help spark a revival.

Desert Romance was a multiple winner in Ireland and improved for a switch to this yard when making all over a mile and a quarter at Newcastle in April. He was back at that level when fourth at Ripon in August, but ran below form at that venue last time.

Crown Counsel gained his third win of the year over a mile at Haydock in June. He has mostly held his form since without improving and looks likely to come up short once more.

Nice Style has had excuses on all four of his starts since winning off a 6 lb higher mark over a mile and a quarter at Lingfield in January and has outside claims if returning from a two-month break at the top of his game.

Dare To Dance is progressing well and booked his ticket for third when readily winning a mile-and-a-quarter handicap at the July course in August. He is potentially well treated so long as his inexperience doesn't count against him in a race of this nature.

First Post has been better than ever this summer, winning handicap over a mile and Ascot and Sandown. He bounced back when a good fourth at Newbury last weekend, but this is tougher still.

Maali was progressive when placed at up to a mile and a quarter earlier in the year, but it was disappointing he failed to land the odds in a modest maiden last month and others are stronger on his handicap bow. He is tried in blinkers and a tongue tied now.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1. Dare To Dance
2. Albaqaa
3. Nanton

Timeform View: Plenty of up-and-comers mixed in with some solid older handicappers. Dare To Dance heads the list of the younger brigade and, though his lack of experience is a concern, his lowly mark could well offset that. Albaqaa makes each-way appeal, while 2009-third Nanton could run well again at a huge price.

Timeform TV Focus was in fine form on Friday, with three winners from five selections including Oriental Scot ([18.0] Betfair SP). Click HERE to find out how you can get Saturday's selections from Timeform's team of experts.

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