19:45 Newcastle
Thursday 9 March 2017
All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15
sunbets.co.uk Handicap
- 4YO plus | Class 4 | 7f 14y | Standard | 8 Runners | Allweather | Weighed In
- Off time: 19:45 | Winning time: 1m 25.51s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Well suited by this combination of track and trip, and was a decisive 1¼L C&D winner last Thursday (Bouclier third). Bypassed the opportunity of a quick follow up over 1m on Saturday evening (non runner; vet's certificate, stiff), and is likely to take all of the beating under a six pound penalty at this trip.
Only nineteenth of 24 in the Bronze Cup at Ayr in September 2016, but rounded off the turf campaign with solid placed efforts at York and Doncaster (both over 7F). Lightly raced on the AW (largely at Southwell), but possibly this return is a sharpener with a turf campaign ahead.
Improved significantly over this trip when switched to this trainer last backend, winning on his final start at Newmarket (Class 4 handicap) in October. Makes his AW debut but is likely to be well suited by Tapeta having won on a fast surface on turf, and should go well from a 5lb higher mark if fully tuned up.
Solid handicapper for Richard Hannon, including on the AW - finished second on the Polytrack at Kempton in June 2016 from a 2lb higher mark. Possibly much better than recent stable debut tenth of 11 (over 1m) here last month, with this drop in trip helpful if seeking to race prominently again.
25/1 maiden winner at Redcar in October 2016 for Ed Walker (third start), and joined new connections later that month for 40,000 gns. Returns to this track over a more suitable 7F (previous run here over 1m2f) from an opening mark of 77.
Consistent during 2015, winning at Redcar (6F good to firm) and at Musselburgh (7F good to firm) in seven starts that year, but much quieter during 2016, beating only one rival home on his last two starts combined at Thirsk in July and here in October. Difficult to fancy.
In cracking form during October and November 2016, winning twice on turf over this trip at Redcar (from marks of 63 & 67), before narrowly going under to Manatee Bay over a possibly inadequate 6F at this track. Below par on her final start at Lingfield, and holds a chance on her return if fresh despite a much elevated handicap mark.
Finished 2016 in good nick (winner over 1m at Kempton in late November), but the handicapper appears to have caught up with him for now despite his last start at Chelmsford (1m) suggesting a return to this shorter trip may be helpful. Newcastle AW debut.
Non-Runners
5
(3)
Bouclier7
Weight: 9-0| Age: 7
T: M Appleby J: Oisin Murphy
NR
9
(4)
Gramercy20
Weight: 8-11| Age: 10
T: P Morris J: G Lee
NR
Forecasts
Via Via (11/10), War Department (7/2), Twin Appeal (7/2), Bouclier (8/1), Enjoy Life (12/1), Hail Clodius (14/1), Baltic Prince (20/1), Gramercy (20/1), Glorious Poet (25/1), Shootingsta (33/1)
Probably only Via Via stands between this being a straight shoot-out between War Department and BOUCLIER. James Tate's Via Via should appreciate the switch to Tapeta having scored on fast ground at Newmarket in October 2016, and a 5lb rise is far from prohibitive. However, he's likely to find it tough to down the two rivals who clashed over C&D last week. The selection is 5lb better off with his conqueror, and fully entitled to improve for the switch to Mick Appleby, and he just gets the nod over a most solid dual C&D winner who hails from a stable in form in a race where the margins promise to be extremely fine.
- Bouclier
- War Department
- Via Via
Prize Money
1st: £4,690.002nd: £1,396.003rd: £697.004th: £349.00
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