18:45 Newcastle
Friday 27 January 2017
All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15
Betway Handicap
- 4YO plus | Class 4 | 5f | Standard | 8 Runners | Allweather | Weighed In
- Off time: 18:45 | Winning time: 59.09s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Raised 4lb for a recent C&D success in which he held off Burning Thread by half a length (with a previous winner third, and Fredricka seventh). Sports an excellent career record on the AW (10 from 32), and has performed with credit on each start at this track, but is climbing the weights to a joint career high of 84.
Went under by less than a length when third here on Saturday evening behind Poppy In the Wind (Fredricka second), having also posted an excellent C&D effort (second) behind the progressive Outrage in mid December. Clearly well suited by this track and a contender.
C&D winner on just his second AW start in September 2016. Always handy on that occasion, he was driven out by Connor Beasley (partners Foxy Forever) to score by half a length, and is respected from a 3lb higher mark with a near four month absence to overcome.
Former stablemate of Aprovado, and also ex Richard Fahey, who has done well for Paul Midgely in four starts since joining him in September 2016. A dual winner for the yard on turf over this trip at Musselburgh (rated 68) and Navan (rated 71), this compact, stocky sprinter makes a belated AW debut from a 7lb higher mark (78).
A four time winner on turf, but just the sole success on the AW to his name (at Chelmsford in April 2015), but was entitled to have needed his first run for five months at Kempton in mid December. Unable to build upon that next time, but that was on the Fibresand at Southwell, yet others still preferred despite a further 2lb reduction to a mark of 78.
One time most useful mare on turf, but has also had her fair share of problems, and is now seemingly on the decline at the age of nine. This is just her third AW start, but she's not shown anywhere near enough on either previous run at this track to make a reduced mark of 73 appeal.
Undoubtedly hasn't had the breaks at this track of late, and has become very well handicapped. A fast finishing second here on Saturday evening (Foxy Forever third) on her most recent start makes her very much the one to beat. Well capable of reversing January C&D form with Rich Again on 6lb better terms given that she was unlucky in running that day.
Sprung a 25/1 shock here earlier this month when winning over C&D (Fredricka fifth), but that form has an overall solid look with the runner up Poppy in The Wind winning here on Saturday evening. Raised just 2lb for that success which would appear fairly lenient, and likely to be thereabouts with Nathan Evans taking over from Lewis Edmunds in the saddle.
Forecasts
Foxy Forever (5/2), Rich Again (11/4), Fredricka (4/1), Bahango (7/1), Aprovado (17/2), Normal Equilibrium (12/1), One Boy (16/1), Willbeme (66/1)
A fascinating sprint, with a whole host of in-form horses set to line up. Many of the runners are no strangers to each other, or this C&D for that matter, and therefore few can be easily ruled out. A good run looks assured from both Foxy Forever and the leniently treated Bahango, whilst One Boy is an interesting project tackling an artificial surface for the first time at the age of six. However, the mare who appeals as the most likely winner is FREDRICKA, and whilst she's been beaten by some of these rivals here in the past, she's been unlucky in the run in a number of those races, and with a most attractive handicap mark, and a striking effort to her name as recently as last Saturday, this looks set to be her day in the sun. Expect her to be dropped in and delivered late and fast from a wide draw by Andrew Mullen.
1. Fredricka
2. Bahango
3. Rich Again
Prize Money
1st: £4,852.002nd: £1,444.003rd: £722.004th: £361.00
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