Intriguing Handicap for three year old’s. I feel there is a wrong favourite at the top of the market, or at least the favourite is way too short compared to the rest.

That says Muqtaser done really well to finish a close 3rd over course and distance last month here. He is proven in these conditions and is sure to give a good account. But on that exact performance he doesn’t appear to be particularly well handicapped off a 1lb higher mark. He had the run of the race that day compared to some others and still wasn’t capable of winning. This here doesn’t look much easier. He’s opposable at short odds.

Godolphin’s Global Force looks more like a good price. He won a CD maiden last month and gave the impression to be a smart individual. I like him and he may well up to pattern class, but he has to be if he wants to overcome a pretty high opening mark of 94. The handicapper has allotted him a pretty tough assignment for a start. He may well be good enough, but not sure if I really want to find that out with my money with better alternatives from a handicapping perspective.

The only positive for Mustard is the jockey booking of Ryan Moore. Otherwise he looks too slow and on a high enough mark considering his handicap debut at Leicester in a lesser race. The step up in trip doesn’t seem to suit Azraff on pedigree. He is a good price but I find it hard to fancy him here off a big mark. Lostock Hall has to prove that he really wants 10f.

The two most intriguing runners are certainly the two bottom weights. Brotherly Company stepped up to 1m 2f in a Redcar maiden last month and won easily on quick ground. He defies his pedigree and that is something I’m slightly worried about. It was not a particularly strong race, he had it all from the front – this is tougher. But off 81 he is one that could be better than the mark if he truly gets the trip.

Without a question Marma’s Boy is overpriced. Yes, he didn’t beat much at Wolverhampton last month when he got off the mark in a 10f maiden on his seasonal reappearance. But he couldn’t have been more impressively. It was only his fourth start, his first over 10f and there is more to come with the trip surely to suit and the switch to turf and quick ground seemingly not an issue judged and last years maiden form. It remains to be seen if he is up to this class, but an opening mark off 79 could be lenient.

5.25 Newmarket: Class 3 Handicap, 1m 2f
Marma’s Boy @ 9/1 Coral – 5pts win