17:45 Newcastle

Friday 10 February 2017

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

Sunbets.co.uk Handicap

Off time: 17:47 | Winning time: 1m 39.38s

(4)

My Matador^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: P Hanagan| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 67

4/1

Ex French (John Hammond) and more latterly Irish (Edward O'Grady), with just the two starts for this trainer so far. Caught close home by Bamako Du Chatelet over 1m4f at Lingfield in December, he was only keeping on at the same pace when ninth of 12 (same trip at Kempton) next time. Takes a big drop in trip (not raced over this distance since 2014), but is the stables first Newcastle runner, Flat or Jumps, in at least five years.

Form: 3731/6-0

(6)

Newmarket Warrior^p³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 66

7/2

Remains a maiden after 22 runs under rules, but is less exposed on the AW (0 from 3) and has run well over this C&D in his last two starts. Obvious chance, and competitive from this mark if settling better early doors.

Form: 52-4313

(8)

Space War^t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 9-7| J: Ryan Timby⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 65

7/1

In reasonable form on the AW during November and the early part of December, but off the boil recently, and those fair efforts were over shorter trips (six and seven furlongs). Has won over this trip on multiple occasions in the past, but his run style twice at this track during November raises some doubts about his stamina these days (unless he settles early).

Form: 513441

(7)

Chiswick Bey²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Natalie Hambling⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 65

5/2

Showed improvement on his latest start over C&D when a nearest at the finish third of ten behind Pickett's Charge, seemingly well suited by the step back up to a mile; a trip that he was successful over on turf in a seller at Redcar in September. Remains on the same mark (65), so another decent showing can be expected.

Form: 8-31925

(1)

Check 'em Tuesday³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: D Swift| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 63

10/1

Took a Class 6 handicap over this trip on the Polytrack at Kempton in October from a 3lb lower mark, but nowhere near as competitive in three races since. Whilst she has experience of Tapeta at Wolverhampton, this straight mile at Newcastle will be a much different AW experience for her, and she's not helped by being drawn out wide. Suited by a good gallop.

Form: 54107-5

(2)

Scannermandango¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 55

33/1

Held no chance in three C&D maidens at the weights during her short career, and likely to be much more suited in handicaps with time. Makes her handicap debut today, with some signs of improvement surely the primary objective.

Form: 6-9660

(5)

A Boy Named Sue^v1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Nathan Evans⁽³⁾| T: P D Niven| OR: 48

11/2

Slightly disappointing he wasn't able to build upon a fair comeback fourth over C&D late last month, when only eighth of 13 over a shorter trip (7f) last time. Better drawn today and likely suited by stepping back up in trip with the first time visor hopefully a help.

Form: 0-48237

(9)

Ivy Matilda⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Joey Haynes| T: C J Teague| OR: 45

100/1

Finished sixth of eight on her return from a long absence (stable debut) in a 7f maiden at this track earlier this month, and steps up to 1m for the first time from a basement mark and out of the handicap.

Form: 090/676

Non-Runners

(3)

Sandstream¹⁴

Weight: 8-2| Age: 4

T: Miss Tracy Waggott J: L Morris

Forecasts

Chiswick Bey (5/2), Newmarket Warrior (7/2), My Matador (4/1), A Boy Named Sue (11/2), Sandstream (6/1), Space War (7/1), Check 'em Tuesday (10/1), Scannermandango (33/1), Ivy Matilda (100/1)

It may well prove significant that Victor Dartnall sends a runner North to Newcastle, but My Matador has some questions to answer over this much reduced trip, so this race is probably best left to those with previous C&D form. The visor should help A Boy Named Sue who will also appreciate the step back up from 7f, whilst Chiswick Bey is a proven performer over this trip and showed improved form on the AW last time. However, NEWMARKET WARRIOR is given another chance to shed the maiden tag, with his placed efforts (particularly his fourth to Rock Warbler) at around the turn of the year coming in slightly stronger races than this one. 1. Newmarket Warrior 2. Chiswick Bey 3. A Boy Named Sue