15:25 Newcastle

Friday 14 April 2017

All13:5014:2014:5515:2515:5516:2516:55

Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:27 | Winning time: 2m 40.16s

(7)

Tawdeea^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 106

25/1

Emphatic course winner on day one of the Tapeta in May 2016 (1m2f), and did win twice more over this trip later in 2016 (at Haydock and Leicester). Ran well in the November Handicap (fifth) on his final start last term, but found a Doncaster Conditions Stakes too competitive on his seasonal return earlier this month.

Form: 315-672

(10)

To Be Wild¹⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Josephine Gordon| T: H Palmer| OR: 104

9/2

Holds a Group 2 Yorkshire Cup Stakes entry next month and appears to be a most progressive horse. A Ffos Las maiden winner in July 2016, it was his very ready 4L victory in a Class 2 Doncaster handicap in October which screamed vast potential, and he remains unbeaten since linking up with the Champion Apprentice of 2016.

Form: 5/11-8

(5)

Fabricate^p³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Louis Steward⁽³⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 102

10/1

1m4f Leicester handicap winner (October 2016) who finished third of nine to Cohesion on his AW debut (and seasonal reappearance) at Wolverhampton last month. Off the mark at the second attempt in 2016 and likely spot on for this race.

Form: 5381-34

(11)

Abareeq¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Harry Bentley| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 102

12/1

Four time AW winner (40% strike rate), and thrived last month winning twice; over 1m2f at Kempton and over 1m4f at Lingfield. 14lb higher since the first of those victories but excused his latest run at Chelmsford (didn't get the run of the race).

Form: 171509

(13)

Ballynanty²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 101

28/1

Finished well down the field in the 2016 Ebor, and only fifth (weakened tamely) on his seasonal reappearance behind Abareeq at Lingfield last month. More required.

Form: 2300-50

(14)

Wild Hacked¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: L Dettori| T: M Botti| OR: 101

5/1

Progressive in the latter half of 2016, winning two of his final three starts (on the Chelmsford Polytrack in August; 10F, and a Class 3 handicap at Windsor in October; 1m3f+). Unable to defy an 8lb higher mark on his seasonal reappearance in the Rosebery Handicap at Kempton recently. However, that was an excellent effort with connections hoping to avoid a handicap blot like Big Country in this valuable contest.

Form: 2141-21

(4)

Erik The Red¹⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 99

11/1

November Handicap runner up to Prize Money at Doncaster on his final outing last term, having previously posted a strong showing in the Cambridgeshire (seventh of 31). Untried on the AW to date and races from a career high mark of 99, but in all fairness that mark has certainly been earned.

Form: 49372-6

(2)

Hamelin²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: M Harley| T: George Scott| OR: 98

33/1

Narrow C&D winner from a 3lb lower mark in February, with his trainer having done well with the others runners he has sent to this track (including Saxagogo). Possibly didn't see out the trip when finishing fifth upped to 2m next time (Good Run second), and likely suited by dropping back to 1m4f.

Form: 630684

(3)

Good Run^b1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Adam J McNamara⁽³⁾| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 99

7/1

Lightly raced, but a three time winner from six starts. Made a winning AW debut when downing the progressive Ajman Prince over 2m here in November, and might well have just needed the race back from a break last month when downed by ¾L by Gavlar. Regular rider Kevin Stott is elsewhere but a handy 3lb claimer takes over in the saddle as this first time blinkered gelding drops back to 1m4f.

Form: 11/01-20

(1)

Mustajeer¹⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 98

10/1

2015 1m Newmarket maiden winner for Barry Hills (To Be Wild fifth), but endured a light campaign last term after finishing runner up in The Fielden Stakes to Ventura Storm at Newmarket in April. Interesting to see what the market makes of this unexposed sort now upped to 1m4f.

Form: 41/23-9

(6)

Intense Tango^t⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: C Lee⁽⁵⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 96

50/1

Winning hurdler and Flat turf campaigner who likes to get her toe into the ground. Runner up over C&D in July 2016, but that was in a Class 4 handicap and a major surprise if this Archerfield Cup winner (Musselburgh) is good enough in this race.

Form: 130-640

(12)

Mistiroc^v³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 95

20/1

Unplaced in five outings since winning a Class 3 handicap at Ascot on Shergar Cup day in August 2016. Remains 4lb higher and 0 from 2 on the AW so others much preferred.

Form: 006-642

(9)

Lord George¹⁷⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: George Wood⁽⁵⁾| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 93

8/1

2 from 3 on the AW at up to 1m3f, and stayed on for pressure to edge out Sennockian Star by a short head at Kempton in September 2016. Needs to prove he stays this trip against such rivals and remains 4lb higher hence the use of a talented 5lb claimer to help balance the scales.

Form: 21419-3

(8)

Final³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 91

10/1

Has been very busy since February with AW successes over C&D and over 1m2f at Lingfield. Forced to race wide when below par in the Rosebery at Kempton (Wild Hacked second), but bounced back by beating all bar the decisive winner Snoano at Pontefract on Tuesday. Tough, but will need to dig deep if competing in a third high quality handicap this month.

Form: 192U25

Forecasts

To Be Wild (9/2), Wild Hacked (5/1), Good Run (7/1), Lord George (8/1), Fabricate (10/1), Mustajeer (10/1), Final (10/1), Erik The Red (11/1), Abareeq (12/1), Mistiroc (20/1), Tawdeea (25/1), Ballynanty (28/1), Hamelin (33/1), Intense Tango (50/1)

A stellar £85,000 (total prize fund) 1m4f handicap which would be worthy of the feature race on any card, but for the £100,000 Burradon Conditions Stakes. To Be Wild appears to have a massive future ahead, and this unexposed Hugo Palmer trained Yorkshire Cup Stakes entrant is two from two since teaming up with Josephine Gordon, and looks certain to go close on his seasonal return. However, preference is for the Marco Botti trained WILD HACKED who ran a mighty race earlier this month when beating all bar the handicap blot that was Big Country in Kempton's Rosebery Handicap, and with Frankie booked he's taken to strike whilst the iron is hot.