15:45 Newcastle

Thursday 2 March 2017

All14:1014:4015:1015:4516:2016:5517:25

Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 2m 11.65s

(13)

A L'anglaise²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S De Sousa| T: Rae Guest| OR: 80

7/1

Former Andre Fabre trained filly who ran well in two French AW starts towards the end of 2016 (winning at Chantilly). Made her British debut when fourth to Count Montecristo at Wolverhampton last month, and of interest upped marginally in trip despite a tricky draw.

Form: 538621-

(11)

General Hazard⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: B A Curtis| T: A Watson| OR: 77

5/2

Returned from a break to score twice for Michael Bell on the AW in December 2016 (Wolverhampton and Lingfield) before moving on to pastures new for 20,000 gns in February after finishing second over 1m4f (headed last strides) at Lingfield in late January. 3lb higher for stable debut, but drop in trip helpful.

Form: 705112

(2)

Pivotman^b,t¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 76

20/1

4lb higher than when winning well over the extended 9F at Wolverhampton in late January, but below par for Nathan Evans on his latest start. Inexperienced claimer takes the ride.

Form: 147010

(6)

Zabeel Star¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Liam Keniry| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 74

8/1

Polytrack winner at Kempton in December 2016 (beat the frustrating Fastnet Blast) and doesn't appear brilliantly treated from a 6lb higher mark. However, competitive the past twice, so the handicappers hands are tied. 0 from 3 at Newcastle.

Form: 61-2430

(12)

Storm King¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: F Norton| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 74

14/1

Not won on the AW since 2012 (both at Kempton), but went under by just 1L at Southwell on his penultimate start. Fourth most recently over further at Lingfield (1m4f) with the third in that contest Mica Mika running in our previous race (3.10pm).

Form: 461321

(10)

Cadeau Magnifique^p⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 73

7/1

Finished runner-up on four of his last five outings, but well beaten at this track last time (1m). Returns from a short break, upped in trip.

Form: 500222

(5)

Spes Nostra^b³

Age: 9| Weight: 8-13| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 72

11/1

Connections seem to be struggling to get the best out of this five time AW winner this winter, but at least his handicap mark has dropped 10lb in five starts since November 2016. Feasible that he could dictate the pace in a steadily run affair, and dangerous from this mark if allowed to do so (½L runner up at Wolverhampton from a mark of 88 in March last year).

Form: 748338

(3)

Magistral^p²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: P J McDonald| T: I Jardine| OR: 72

17/2

Competitive from marks in the mid 80's for John Gosden over a mile in 2013, but never sparkled off a near two year break in the final quarter of 2015 for Irish trainer James Lambe. Dropped to a mark of 71 for his AW and stable debut last month after another 14 months off, finishing second to course specialist Taopix. 1lb higher and dropped in trip but holds a clear chance.

Form: 77/2047

(14)

Framley Garth⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Paula Muir⁽⁷⁾| T: P Holmes| OR: 72

125/1

Not at his best since late summer (Redcar runner up in August 2016), but debatable in any case as to whether he'd be good enough to win this and returns from hurdling with the worst of the draw (wide).

Form: 900-767

(1)

Take Two⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Callum Shepherd⁽³⁾| T: A M Hales| OR: 70

16/1

An eleven race AW maiden, and without a win on turf since 2013, but placed on three occasions this winter since returning from 18 months off after winning over hurdles at Warwick in March 2015. First experience of this track.

Form: 364444

(8)

Restive^h¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: T Eaves| T: I Jardine| OR: 70

12/1

Ex Ger Lyons trained, and produced a clear best effort for this trainer in the first time hood when stepped up to this trip over C&D last month, going down by a neck to Thello. Very attractively handicapped on his old form and a major player for a trainer with two other runners in this race.

Form: 0-77283

(9)

Melanna²³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: G Lee| T: R Ford| OR: 69

200/1

Back to back winner in Ireland for James M Barrett over 1m4f on turf in August and September of 2016, finishing her Irish career from a mark of 79. Ran a peculiar race (in snatches) on stable debut at Wolverhampton and no better when last of eight over this C&D to Energia Fox latest.

Form: 407-089

(7)

Fantasy Gladiator^p⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 8-7| J: A Mullen| T: M Appleby| OR: 64

80/1

Ten time winner (over shorter) but badly out of form this winter with age seemingly catching up with him, and difficult to fancy over 1m2f.

Form: 5P0543

Non-Runners

(4)

Nicholas T¹³

Weight: 9-0| Age: 5

T: J S Goldie J: Non Runner

Forecasts

General Hazard (5/2), Cadeau Magnifique (7/1), A L'anglaise (7/1), Zabeel Star (8/1), Magistral (17/2), Spes Nostra (11/1), Restive (12/1), Storm King (14/1), Nicholas T (14/1), Take Two (16/1), Pivotman (20/1), Fantasy Gladiator (80/1), Framley Garth (125/1), Melanna (200/1)

Iain Jardine holds a strong hand in this wide open contest, saddling three runners, all of which hold reasonable claims. Spes Nostra is on a dangerous mark if allowed to dictate, and ran well in the month of March last year from a much higher mark. Magistral recorded a pleasing stable debut splitting Newcastle lovers Taopix and Go George Go early in February, but the vote goes to the attractively handicapped ex Irish trained RESTIVE who thrived for the step up in trip in the first time hood over C&D behind Thello recently, with this trainer a dab hand at improving other trainers cast offs. Of the remainder, General Hazard is probably high enough in the weights on his debut for Archie Watson (beaten by his own Attain last time), whilst A L'Anglaise is interesting despite a tough draw. 1. Restive 2. Magistral 3. General Hazard