Totesport International Handicap Betting Preview

Saturday's valuabletotesport International Handicap at Newbury is tantamount to at least a Listed contest in terms of the quality of runners it has attracted.It features some of the best handicapper's on the grid, in addition to some rapidly improving types of all ages. The one with the best claims in my opinion, however, is the Paul Cole-trained Peter Paul Rubens, who is generally available at a top-price of 7-1.Considering that the ground was 'loose' on the day of the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot at York, the four-year-old, who is much more effective on genuine fast going, ran a cracking race in defeat to finish four lengths third to the well-handicapped Iffraaj. The way the son of Belong To Me stayed on close home there left the clear impression that the return to seven-furlongs on Saturday will be very much in his favour. Indeed, he demonstrated last season that there are few better seven-furlong, fast ground performers at around this level. The pinnacle of that campaign came at Glorious Goodwood where he made all to beat a high quality field in decisive fashion. His victims that day included the likes of subsequent Group Two winner Peeress, in addition to top-notch handicapper's such as Take A Bow and Jedburgh.Peter Paul Rubens is extremely hard to pass when conditions are in his favour, and I reckon he will be difficult to beat on Newbury's galloping track.Of the improvers that I alluded to earlier, ante-post favourite Polar Magic must be high on the list of dangers. He has been an expensive loser the last twice and appears to be screaming out for a step up to a mile, having finished strongly over seven furlongs on each of his last three outings, including when a short head second to Mine in the Bunbury Cup last time. There can be little doubt that James Fanshawe's charge has a big handicap in him. However, he always seems to hit a flat spot in his races and, as was the case at Sandown on his penultimate start, his come come-from-behind style often means that he becomes the victim of the customary traffic problems associated with big field handicaps. By contrast, Peter Paul Rubens likes to blaze the trail at the head of affairs and therefore avoids the carnage in behind. I can see the selection kicking for home just over a furlong out and nicking the race, while the likes of Polar Magic and Goodricke will be lunging late.The latter looked very much on an upward curve when coasting home in a decent conditions race over six furlongs here last time and the form reads well, as does his effort at Epsom previously where he chased home Galeota in a Listed race. My concern about the Sheikh Mohammed-owned colt, though, is that he appears to be best suited by a bit of give in the ground - his only run on fast going saw him well beaten - so, on that basis, he is passed over.Pivotal Flame and Partners In Jazz (also engaged in the Skybet Dash at York on Saturday), both behind Polar Magic when third and fourth respectively in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket earlier this month, are not without claims.Pivotal Flame arguably looked the unluckiest that day having met with trouble in running before staying on with real purpose to be beaten just a head. That was an improved effort and if he progresses further then a bold bid looks likely. In addition to Polar Magic, James Fanshawe has also entered Royal Hunt Cup third Azarole, and Traytonic, who bounced back to form when landing a competitive conditions race at Haydock last time. Neither should be discounted, although both have shown a preference for a bit of cut in the ground.Betting verdict: 1pt win Peter Paul Rubens @ 7/1 (Bet Direct, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Blue Square, Totesport)