20:15 Newcastle

Friday 27 January 2017

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Betway Best Odds Guaranteed Plus Handicap

Off time: 20:16 | Winning time: 59.72s

(2)

Nuala Tagula¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Josh Quinn⁽⁷⁾| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 60

7/1

Ex Irish (Patrick Cronin) who was a C&D maiden winner on her stable debut in late September. However, she has found life tougher in handicaps since (including here, outclassed in a Class 4 race). This is about her level, and eased back to a mark of 60, a better show is anticipated.

Form: 104-490

(13)

Roaring Rory^p⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽⁵⁾| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 60

11/1

Moderate, with sole AW and turf wins coming in a claimer and a seller. Both runs on the AW so far this winter have been on Tapeta, but difficult to fancy here despite an easing handicap mark.

Form: 9-41673

(9)

Novabridge^b³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Gemma Tutty⁽⁵⁾| T: K Tutty| OR: 59

6/1

Formerly with John Butler, but has thrived for Karen Tutty since returning to the track in early November. A runner up over C&D on his second run back, he subsequently notched a quickfire 11 day C&D double in December, and comes here seeking the hat-trick. Now 7lb higher than for the first of those wins (3lb above latest) and likely to build upon an excellent course AW record tonight.

Form: 845258

(12)

See Vermont^p¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 58

5/1

Was kept busy between June and September with 11 starts which featured some reasonable efforts at Musselburgh including a half length success from this mark of 58 in August. Dwelt and never threatened but probably needed the run on reappearance earlier this month at Wolverhampton (6f), and promises to be sharper at this trip with Danny Tudhope aboard.

Form: 534254

(8)

Sugar Town¹²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Nathan Evans⁽³⁾| T: P D Niven| OR: 57

13/2

Notched a rapid double in late July/early August, with the second of those victories coming here over 6f (kept on strongly from a mark of 53). Placed thereafter in three runs (twice at Newcastle), before being given a break. Returns tonight with that absence to overcome over this minimum trip, which will probably only be suitable with a solid end to end gallop. Could well try to make all, a tactic which rarely reaps dividends here, but did so for four of the winners on Wednesday.

Form: 911323-

(10)

Insolenceofoffice^p²⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽⁷⁾| T: R Ford| OR: 57

33/1

Boasts a most solid AW career profile (nine from 38), winning over 6f for this rider from just a 3lb lower mark at Kempton three runs ago in March 2016. Beaten by just a nose on his last start at Ayr in May 2016, but has a lengthy absence to overcome. Has plenty of winning form over this trip.

Form: 2-08988

(1)

Lady Bacchus^b¹¹^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Connor Beasley| T: R C Guest| OR: 51

11/2

Has taken well to racing on artificial surfaces, and won from an 11lb lower mark over C&D in November (beat Novabridge by one and a quarter lengths). Those placings were reversed when the pair clashed in December, and there is little to choose between the pair on that latter race. Has maintained her improvement into 2017, and won as recently as just under a fortnight ago over this trip at Wolverhampton. Clear contender.

Form: 024172-

(11)

Windforpower^v⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: B A Curtis| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 56

8/1

Has run at this track on six of his last seven starts since September, generally with credit, and wasn't beaten too far by Novabridge when third on his penultimate start over C&D. However, taking everything on board, he's only managed to win once in the past 18 months (Carlisle in May 2016) so others preferred for win purposes.

Form: 642129

(5)

Fuel Injection^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: J Garritty| T: P T Midgley| OR: 53

16/1

Only won once in 17 AW starts (at Southwell in February 2014), but has slowly improved over the course of four runs since his return to the AW in November from a short break since July. Has work to do with both Novabridge and Lady Bacchus on his last two starts and is likely to race to the fore again early tonight.

Form: 706-466

(7)

Sea Of Green²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Joe Doyle| T: J S Goldie| OR: 46

18/1

Maiden after 22 career starts (0 from 5 on the AW), and takes a sharp back in trip here having raced over 7f last time. Very tough to imagine she can be involved.

Form: 355102

(3)

Gettin' Lucky¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: A Mullen| T: J Balding| OR: 46

6/1

Has raced over trips ranging from 5f to 7f during a seven race career, with his best run coming here over 6f when second to Commanche in December (beaten four lengths). Likely to find this trip on the sharp side.

Form: 80-082

(4)

Whispering Wolf¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Barry McHugh| T: Suzzanne France| OR: 45

33/1

Vastly exceeded market expectations when finishing second to Novabridge at odds of 80/1 over C&D just before Christmas, but not so good latest at Wolverhampton (sixth, Getting Lucky fourth). Not without some ability despite a mark of 45 and placed on three occasions on Tapeta, but arguably too inconsistent for her own good.

Form: 998930

Non-Runners

(6)

Dusty Blue²⁵

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: A W Carroll J: E J Walsh

(14)

Cruise Tothelimit²³

Weight: 9-7| Age: 9

T: P Morris J: G Lee

Forecasts

See Vermont (5/1), Lady Bacchus (11/2), Novabridge (6/1), Gettin' Lucky (6/1), Sugar Town (13/2), Nuala Tagula (7/1), Windforpower (8/1), Roaring Rory (11/1), Cruise Tothelimit (14/1), Fuel Injection (16/1), Dusty Blue (16/1), Sea Of Green (18/1), Whispering Wolf (33/1), Insolenceofoffice (33/1)

A wide open finale which promises to be a truly run affair with Sugar Town and Fuel Injection likely to set a good pace. The former has form over 6f, and will seek to put that stamina to the test by looking to make all, a tactic which surprisingly reaped dividends for four of the six winners here on Wednesday. There is very little to choose between old rivals Novabridge and Lady Bacchus at these weights, with both seemingly certain to run well, whilst Nuala Tagula can do better than she has done so far in handicaps dropping back to the scene of her C&D maiden success. However, CRUISE TOTHELIMIT has had excuses recently, and if suited by the first time visor, has a clear chance from a 4lb lower mark than when second over C&D in November to subsequent winner Poppy in The Wind. He can shape well from a favourable high draw assuming Graham Lee can get him tucked in just behind the pace. He's the value play at decent odds. 1. Cruise Tothelimit 2. Lady Bacchus 3. Nuala Tagula