14:40 Newcastle

Tuesday 14 February 2017

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:10

Betway Best Odds Guaranteed Plus Classified Stakes

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 2m 11.86s

(9)

Gabrial The Terror^v1⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: P Hanagan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 70

9/1

Goes well on the Tapeta at Wolverhampton with five of his six career wins there, but yet to race at Newcastle until now. Drops back in trip in the first time visor, having raced over 1m5f on his last two starts.

Form: 565348

(12)

Genres⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: J Fanning| T: G A Swinbank| OR: 68

4/1

Possibly not suited by the smaller field when a beaten favourite over further (1m4f) last week; third to Lac Leman. Smooth traveller who perhaps lacks an instant change of gear at the business end of a race, and therefore might be vulnerable dropping back to 1m2f, despite running eye-catchingly well here over this trip in late December. Remains in good form and more than capable from a mark of 68 in this classified stakes.

Form: 704-13P

(6)

Hydrant²⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Sanderson⁽⁷⁾| T: R C Guest| OR: 54

125/1

A nine time winner on turf, but seemingly not as effective on the AW, not looking like anywhere near a future winner of late, and faces a very stiff task in this race at these weights rated just 54.

Form: 574092

(2)

Muqarred⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Connor Beasley| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 66

12/1

Back from a short break after finishing fourth of 14 over a mile to Testa Rossa and subsequent winner Absolute Blast at this track in early December. Worth another try back over this trip, having finished a close third over 1m2f at Redcar in August 2016.

Form: 761420

(3)

Optima Petamus^p⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Paula Muir⁽⁷⁾| T: P Holmes| OR: 68

33/1

Out of his depth pot hunting over hurdles last time at Musselburgh, but was second over this C&D in a low grade handicap to Polar Forest in November on his most recent Flat start. Not totally discounted on that effort if hurdles exertions haven't taken their toll.

Form: 407962-

(10)

Roman De Brut¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Charlie Bennett⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 68

8/1

Probably just in the grip of the handicapper since winning an Apprentices handicap at Wolverhampton over the extended mile in November 2016, so a drop into a classified stakes is probably a fair move. Twice placed over this trip last summer, but the jury is still out on whether he truly gets 1m2f, so a slight worry at this testing track.

Form: 255431

(8)

Taopix¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 70

3/1

All three of his AW successes have come at this track, including once over C&D. Dispelled the slight worry that 1m4f just over-stretches his stamina by staying on strongly to record a second Tapeta victory at that trip earlier this month, and likely hugely competitive again today dropping back to 1m2f. Clearly loves this place, and has Luke Morris back aboard.

Form: 125412

(7)

Thello⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽⁵⁾| T: G Moss| OR: 63

7/2

C&D winner in December, who has been given a short break since finishing fifth to Galilee Chapel (Taopix third, Genres fourth) in late December. That race has worked out very well, but has a few pounds to find at these weights rated just 63, with talented riders 5lb claim helpful.

Form: 147141

(13)

Melabi³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mulrennan| T: R Ford| OR: 68

20/1

Ex William Haggas trained gelding who is yet to definitively prove he stays this trip, but is falling in the weights having proved largely uncompetitive on four starts for this trainer.

Form: 00-5441

(11)

Restive^h1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: T Eaves| T: I Jardine| OR: 70

10/1

Yet to fully convince in three starts for this yard since switching from Ger Lyons, but worth a crack at this trip in the first time hood, after finishing a never nearer seventh of 12 last time here over 7f behind Safe Voyage. This is the weakest race he's contested for many a moon.

Form: 0-77283

(1)

Shadow Spirit¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 68

20/1

Still a maiden after 15 starts, although did get within half a length of Bollihope over this C&D in mid October. Stables number one hope appears to be Restive.

Form: 325283

(4)

Tifl¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H Main| OR: 69

20/1

Tricky to assess with just three career starts to date (all in maidens). A solid second on debut to Senses of Dubai was backed up with a fair fourth at Lingfield in late December, but ran below par most recently. Yet to race beyond a mile, and takes a keen hold, so this trip could be too far on his Tapeta debut.

Form: 2

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to board prices only - deduction 10p in the pound

Non-Runners

(5)

Polar Forest³³

Weight: 9-2| Age: 7

T: R C Guest J: D Tudhope

Forecasts

Taopix (3/1), Thello (7/2), Genres (4/1), Roman De Brut (8/1), Polar Forest (8/1), Gabrial The Terror (9/1), Restive (10/1), Muqarred (12/1), Melabi (20/1), Shadow Spirit (20/1), Tifl (20/1), Optima Petamus (33/1), Hydrant (125/1)

Many Newcastle regulars renew battle in this trappy looking Classified Stakes. Polar Forest should have the beatings of Optima Petamus, but he doesn't strike you as the kind of horse you'd want your mortgage on, so he can be taken on by the more reliable TAOPIX. Karen McLintock's horse clearly adores this place (local to home) and is versatile between ten and twelve furlongs. He could just out-speed Genres as the pace lifts down the home straight, with that horse appearing slightly vulnerable at this trip, but promising to be much better suited by this bigger field than when a beaten favourite behind Lac Leman last week. 1. Taopix 2. Genres 3. Polar Forest