Newbury Preview: It’s time to get Lucky

Lucky Beggar shaped well on his seasonal reappearance, and looks weighted to land back-to-back successes in the Dubai Duty Free Handicap at Newbury today (15:55).

The Charlie Hills trained five-year-old is a smart sprinter when on song, as he showed when making all to comfortably beat Jimmy Styles in this contest 12 months ago.

Lucky Beggar failed to trouble the judge in three subsequent outings last season, including a Group 2 contest in France and a Listed affair at York, but is sure to appreciate the drop back into handicap company this afternoon.

The son of Verglas also comes into the race on the back of an eye-catching run at Doncaster last month when sixth of 10 to Naadirr in the Cammidge Trophy over 6f.

After being held-up at the rear in the Listed contest, Lucky Beggar made good headway to have every chance a furlong from home before weakening to be beaten 5 1/4 lengths as lack of race fitness took it’s toll.

The drop back to 5f today, over which Lucky Beggar has notched three of his four career successes, is sure to suit and the form looks strong in the context of this contest as the runner-up Astaire landed the Group 3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket yesterday.

Lucky Beggar also carries just 1lb more than when winning last year, and with Jamie Spencer in the saddle looks the one they all have to beat.

In the 7f handicap (15:25), the Sir Michael Stoute trained Capel Path can make a winning seasonal reappearance.

The son of Street Cry shaped with promise in his first two runs as a juvenile before scoring in terrific style at Newcastle.

Capel Path came from off the pace before powering clear to beat Taysh by four lengths, and the runner-up went on to bolt up next time out and is now officially rated 85.