Katie Midwinter: Stumptown can dismiss his Newbury rivals

Alan King’s Masaccio has performed consistently well since making a successful start to his career in a Doncaster bumper three years ago. The gelding finished second in a Listed event at the track in February, the form of which has been franked multiple times by such as Bowenspark and Meatloaf. A winner on hurdling debut when last seen, the six-year-old can continue his progression in this competitive heat.

The promising Jet Powered made a winning start to life under Rules with a convincing success at this meeting last year but he was disappointing in defeat the following month and hasn’t run since. However, excuses could be made for his below-par performance on rain-softened ground and he may be well treated on a mark of 131. Expected to show further progression here, his ability to run well when fresh is a positive and he should possess the class needed to prevail on handicap debut.

Gavin Cromwell has been enjoying plenty of success in Britain already this term with a 24 per cent strike rate and he saddles progressive gelding Stumptown in this prestige handicap. With in-form jockey Danny Mullins coming over for the ride, plus the high level of form the gelding has shown in his previous two appearances in England, including a second-place finish in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival, Stumptown looks a solid each-way bet.