19:30 Newcastle

Wednesday 1 March 2017

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

Betway Handicap

Off time: 19:33 | Winning time: 1m 12.55s

(12)

Ticks The Boxes^b1²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Jordan Vaughan⁽³⁾| T: M Herrington| OR: 77

28/1

Still appears to be paying the price for a decisive success at Southwell in December 2016, and has been well beaten from this mark (77) the past twice (over 7f). Did finish 2L second at this track to subsequent winner Safe Voyage over 7f in January, and drops in trip wearing the first time blinkers tonight.

Form: 064125

(11)

Ballesteros¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 77

18/1

Beaten just over a length by Born To Finish over this trip at Lingfield last month, he perhaps wasn't suited by the minimum trip when finishing sixth of eight to Poppy In The Wind on his Newcastle AW debut on his penultimate start. Likely better over 6f, and was in-form at the back-end of the turf campaign.

Form: 963060

(4)

Art Obsession²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 75

10/1

Back to form when going under by just over 1L to Burtonwood over C&D last month, but meets that rival on worse terms with Burtonwood's rider able to claim his full 7lb allowance tonight. That said; he could still reverse the form, clearly over his burst blood vessel (Catterick) and having run well at this track on both starts.

Form: 2430-32

(6)

Slingsby^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Nathan Evans⁽³⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 74

4/1

Strong performer over C&D, winning twice since October from marks of 68 & 71. Made all, when beating Dark Side Dream (Art Obsession third) in October 2016 and repeating that trick last month when a well supported 5/2f. Does have a fraction to find to confirm placings with Art Obsession on tonight's terms, but always of interest at this track.

Form: 003-157

(10)

Berlios⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: P Makin| T: T D Barron| OR: 72

10/3

Won a 5f Southwell maiden last March before being put away until December, when he went well returning to handicap company (third). Has continued to run well since, including when unlucky in running and getting to within a neck of Commanche at Wolverhampton (6f) most recently. Leading contender racing from the same mark of 72.

Form: 63762-1

(5)

The Hooded Claw¹⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Hart| T: T D Easterby| OR: 71

8/1

Beaten by under a length when fourth to Savannah Beau over C&D on just his second ever AW start in November 2016. Absent since, but returns off the same handicap mark in a marginally stronger race from a stable which commands respect.

Form: 008054-

(7)

Tadaawol^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: P J McDonald| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 70

14/1

Formerly with Richard Hannon, and was a C&D maiden winner on his debut for this stable in November 2016, in what was possibly one of the weakest maidens run at this track on Tapeta to date, and consequently, he has struggled in two starts in handicap company since.

Form: 453222

(8)

Be Bold¹¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: T Eaves| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 69

80/1

Landed a late season 6f apprentices handicap at Redcar in October 2016 under Rowan Scott, but was only ninth of 14 from the same mark here over 7f the following month and has been absent since. Now 4lb higher, this drop back in trip should be helpful, but he remains a maiden on the AW after six career starts.

Form: 758851

(1)

Big Amigo^p¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: C Lee⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 68

22/1

Has regained his form on the Fibresand at Southwell with a pair of 6f victories early in 2017, and didn't have much luck in running there on his latest start (fifth). The handicapper possibly doesn't quite have his measure yet despite a 10lb collective rise, and it'll be interesting to see how he goes on his return to this track now that he's in better form.

Form: 831438

(9)

Meshardal¹⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 67

18/1

Off since September 2016, and out of form when last seen on turf. However is 2 from 4 on the AW (all at Southwell; form figures read 2,1,1,2), so a mark of 67 is clearly a dangerous one. Finished sixth of 15 on his last visit to this track in June 2015 (on turf), in a Class 2 handicap when rated 90.

Form: 7-33202

(3)

Burtonwood¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Kieran Schofield⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 65

11/1

Goes very well at this track (AW and turf winner) and also has a strong record for this young rider. Remains just 2lb higher than when winning over C&D on his penultimate start, and with a drop to 5f seemingly against him last time is clearly a major player again tonight returned to 6f.

Form: 159256

(2)

Foolaad^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: J F Egan| T: S R Bowring| OR: 64

15/2

Has run well at this track on each of his last two starts, and probably didn't quite get home over a mile last time when fourth to Pickett's Charge (Chiswick Bey third); both of whom run earlier on this card. A two furlong drop in trip is a significant one, but he did have the speed to win over 5f on Good to Firm ground at Doncaster in June 2015.

Form: 3-41113

(13)

Mr Morse^p1²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: B A Curtis| T: B Ellison| OR: 63

16/1

Displayed a good attitude to score at the first time of asking on the AW at Southwell (6f maiden) in December on his first start for over 18 months, but backed that up with a tame effort on handicap debut in January. Finished fourth on his Tapeta debut behind Burtonwood and Art Obsession last time, with no obvious reason as to why those placings should be reversed.

Form: 63-

Non-Runners

(14)

Ambitious Icarus¹¹

Weight: 8-8| Age: 8

T: R C Guest J: Connor Beasley

Forecasts

Berlios (10/3), Slingsby (4/1), Foolaad (15/2), The Hooded Claw (8/1), Art Obsession (10/1), Burtonwood (11/1), Ambitious Icarus (12/1), Tadaawol (14/1), Mr Morse (16/1), Meshardal (18/1), Ballesteros (18/1), Big Amigo (22/1), Ticks The Boxes (28/1), Be Bold (80/1)

One of the most competitive handicaps for its grade to be run at this track for a number of months, and a race which will be devilishly difficult to solve with few that can be ruled out completely. Burtonwood and Art Obsession are closely matched, and a good case can be made for both horses with past strong records at this track, whilst Slingsby (who has a little improvement to find to again down Art Obsession) is always a force to be reckoned with here off the front end. The once classy Meshardal is worth watching closely for any market support on his return the track, but the unlucky in running BERLIOS gets the vote to capitalise on an unchanged mark of 72 at a track which should suit. 1. Berlios 2. Art Obsession 3. Burtonwood