16:10 Newcastle
Tuesday 14 February 2017
All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:10
sunbets.co.uk Handicap
- 4YO plus | Class 2 | 7f 14y | Standard | 13 Runners | Allweather | Weighed In
- Off time: 16:12 | Winning time: 1m 26.76s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Tongue tied. In good form at this time of year in 2016, a dual Class 2 Lingfield winner from marks of 98 and 101. Came to hand slightly earlier this winter winning at Chelmsford (7f) in December, and narrowly beaten over a mile by Alfred Hutchinson in a conditions stakes early last month. Makes Newcastle debut (handles Tapeta), unbeaten in three career starts during February, so holds strong claims with this trip ideal.
C&D winner in December 2016, but a most disappointing last of 13 from a 5lb higher mark back at this track last month. Has questions to answer from this mark in this company.
Three time winner on turf (over five and six furlongs), but 0 from 4 on the AW and finished last of eight over this trip in the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Lingfield (March 2016). Entitled to be fitter for December return to the track, but has run on just three occasions since July 2015 with stamina a major concern over 7f.
Met trouble in the run and nearest at the finish when not beaten far behind Flaming Spear (fifth) over C&D last month on just his second career AW start. Mark unchanged (95), and a runner up for this rider over this trip in the Revival Stakes at Goodwood in August 2016. Leading contender.
Boasts a fair AW record (6 from 19) and effective between seven furlongs and a mile, seemingly very well suited to Chelmsford. Finished second in a lower grade Class 3 handicap at Wolverhampton last month before a below par run at Dundalk latest (not suited by a tardy start). Makes Newcastle AW bow.
Progressive through Class 3 and Class 4 AW handicaps landing a hat-trick during December and January, and ran right up to his best when finishing fourth to Flaming Spear over C&D last month (Al Khan third, Suzi's Connoisseur fifth). Raised a further 2lb (to a mark of 94), and yet to win a Class 2 handicap.
A flag bearer for Michael Halford for many years, and a ten time winner from 69 career starts, mainly over sprint trips, but also over further (7f and 1m) as a younger horse. Finished a solid second to the improving Nimr on stable debut at Wolverhampton (7f) recently, with this race a logical next step despite the step up in grade.
C&D winner (Class 4) in December 2016 from a 7lb lower mark, and again ran well when third (33/1) to Flaming Spear here last month (Holiday Magic and Suzi's Connoisseur behind), but the suspicion remains that he's vulnerable from this mark at this Class 2 level.
Did win over this trip in 2013, but that was in a claimer with 6f seemingly his optimum trip. A talented handicapper (won the Ayr Silver Cup in 2015) who has taken well to this track this winter, winning over 6f early last month. 5lb higher, but a major worry that his potent turn of foot will be blunted over this testing 7f.
Finished third over a mile to Chevalier on his most recent run, but work to do with a few of these rivals on his tenth of 13 to Flaming Spear (twice short of room) on his penultimate start over C&D last month, but feasibly may have needed that race being his first run for 11 months.
Dual Hamilton Park scorer as a juvenile in 2015 (6f maiden and a 6f nursery; rated 80) but returns to the track for the first time since November 2015 in an ultra competitive Class 2 handicap.
Fully entitled to make the most of a receding mark (78) over C&D in a Class 4 handicap earlier this month, having raced from a 10lb higher mark (88) in this grade in June 2016. Has various pieces of form aligned with Holiday Magic, and a 5lb rise for that victory seems fair. Now rated 83, his best hopes are probably for a place today.
Thrived at this track through Class 4 to 6 handicaps during October and November 2016, but held from this mark (80) the last twice, and generally most effective over a mile. A strong pace in this much stronger Class 2 contest will help to overcome this drop in trip, but opposed nevertheless.
Forecasts
Holiday Magic (7/2), Russian Soul (9/2), Steel Train (8/1), Suzi's Connoisseur (9/1), Free Code (9/1), Realize (10/1), Horsted Keynes (14/1), Angelic Lord (14/1), Tatlisu (14/1), Testa Rossa (14/1), Al Khan (16/1), Supersta (20/1), Fast And Furious (100/1)
A thoroughly competitive Class 2 handicap, with the race in which Flaming Spear landed a gamble over C&D last month perhaps holding many of the clues to the outcome of this contest. Whilst SUZI'S CONNOISSEUR finished behind both Al Khan and Holiday Magic that day, he had excuses, and being relatively unexposed on the AW is taken to come out on top despite a tough draw in stall one. Realize has a fabulous career record in the month of February and looks the most obvious danger, seemingly certain to go close despite top-weight.
1. Suzi's Connoisseur
2. Realize
3. Russian Soul
Prize Money
1st: £32,463.002nd: £9,721.003rd: £4,860.004th: £2,430.005th: £1,215.006th: £610.00
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