Thanos (20:30 Newbury — Local IQ Handicap, 1m)
A three-year-old by Lope Y Fernandez trained by Harry Charlton, who has been ticking along at 18% over the last fortnight. Thanos has been in fine form this season, winning back to back at Lingfield in May and Chepstow in late May, the latter by 5 lengths off a mark 10lb lower than today. He wears cheek pieces again and has a 100% record in them across two starts. Lewis Edmunds, who won on him last time at Chepstow, retains the ride.
With only five runners tonight, he faces a straightforward task if reproducing recent form, and the draw in stall 4 is no hindrance on a track where high numbers are favoured over this trip.
Verdict: Back to win — in-form and well drawn in a weak five-runner heat.
