Weekend Winners: Almekarem backed for handicap victory at Newbury on Saturday with Stem also fancied

Having claimed a 17-runner handicap at Doncaster's St Leger meeting, Almekarem heads the betting (at the time of writing) for Sir Mark Prescott, despite a 5lb hike in the weights from his Town Moor appearance.

Boyfriend is another who has been penalised by the handicapper following positive recent runs, while Balzac looked to have rediscovered his mojo after being gelded when a runner-up at Ascot earlier this month.

Rossa Ryan and Ralph Beckett team up with Gonna Fly, and Jamie Spencer gets on board Stem, who will look to build on a positive third at Sandown the last day.

"I think I know how this race is going to work out, even though there are plenty of runners lining up for this year's renewal. I think you need one that will settle behind this strong pace and I am going to side with Almekarem after he landed a nice handicap at Doncaster last week.

"The horse has got gears, with the family having plenty of progression with triple-digit-rated siblings. He heads the market, but I think he is on a rapid improve and can take the beating on the back of a good performance last week."

"I am with the Richard Hannon-trained Stem , who I think is a little bit forgotten about here. He ran in the competitive Spring Mile at Newbury - where he ran well and the form of that race has worked out throughout the season.

"He's running over 10 furlongs after being ran over eight [and 12] furlongs [so far this season]. I think he has every chance of running his race and at 8/1, I think he's a solid proposition at those odds."

"I'm siding with a winner of the Polish Oaks - which isn't something I say every day - in Merveilleux Lapin for Owen Burrows. She has been largely consistent since joining the yard without winning and I think she's a shade over priced here.

"She bumped into some progressive types at Ascot last time and although the Burrows stable form isn't as good as I was hoping recently, he did have a nice winner the other day at Yarmouth. At 16/1, she will probably be the value play for me."

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