15:30 Newcastle

Saturday 1 July 2017

All13:5014:2515:0015:3016:0516:4517:15

Stobart Rail Northumberland Plate Handicap (Heritage)

Off time: 15:32 | Winning time: 3m 35.37s

(20)

Clever Cookie^p³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: D Tudhope| T: P D Niven| OR: 108| BF| D

33/1

Top-class stayer who reached his pinnacle with a Yorkshire Cup success last year. Out of form this term and facing a stiff task off topweight.

Form: 1757-69

(13)

Higher Power³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: T P Queally| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 107| D

11/2

Both victories have come on AW surfaces and he will find this easier than his clash with the Gold Cup winner Big Orange last time. Stable have an excellent record at this track at this time of year (5-9).

Form: 1221-22

(3)

Maleficent Queen²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lee| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 105

50/1

Put together a five-timer in 2015/early 2016, including a 1m2f Listed win at Ayr to cap that off. Only run over this trip was in a muddling race and proved inconclusive but she has form over 1m6f which makes her interesting on her AW debut.

Form: 8-52436

(16)

Winterlude⁷⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: D Nolan| T: J Candlish| OR: 104| D

66/1

Has six AW wins and was in good form February/March time but last couple of efforts suggest he is not up to this.

Form: 121250

(10)

Natural Scenery⁷⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Josephine Gordon| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 103| BF| CD

7/1

Goes particularly well for this rider and the pair have combined for two course successes. Beat the useful London Prize here in February and that form looks better now. Looks a difficult ride who needs to be produced on the bridle. Hard to see that being possible off a career high mark in this company.

Form: 123-116

(11)

Seamour^p³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: B A Curtis| T: B Ellison| OR: 103| D

6/1

Probably hit the front too soon when just denied in this last year. Rider keeps the mount and yard are just hitting form at the right time.

Form: 29522-3

(7)

Suegioo^p¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 100

25/1

Runner-up in this in 2014 and has not won since landing the Chester Cup the same year. Can usually be spotted making late headway but probably needs the handicapper to cut him some slack as ageing takes effect.

Form: 68-9925

(8)

Flymetothestars⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 100| CD

11/4

Easily accounted for the Ascot Stakes runner-up over C&D last time. Looks a typically progressive type for the yard who has been trained with a big prize in mind. Trainer/rider combination 8-27 here.

Form: 161-1

(9)

Yorkidding⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 99| D

33/1

Peaked in May and below her best on last couple of starts. Has underperformed on two previous AW starts and has something to find.

Form: 323185

(15)

Cosmelli^b²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: T Eaves| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 99

100/1

Useful horse in Italy on testing ground at around 1m2f. Has looked a doubtful stayer on both starts for new trainer and the long odds look justified.

Form: 1118-08

(6)

Sir Chauvelin⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 98| D

25/1

Fourth in the Vase on this card 12 months ago. Latest Musselburgh victory sets him a task that has been beyond him in the past.

Form: 00-6271

(4)

Good Run^p1⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Fran Berry| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 98| BF| CD

20/1

His two best performances have come over C&D. Disappointing on turf recently but has been given a break. Cheekpieces are fitted for the first time by a trainer who is 17-55 when doing so.

Form: 1/01-206

(5)

Jaameh²¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Dane O'Neill| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 93

12/1

Had little left when scoring over 1m6f at Newmarket last time. That was a decent race though and a 5lb penalty is not too harsh on this progressive type. Yet to tackle this trip and although his sire gets his share of marathon winners, his progeny's record on this surface is less impressive (4-69).

Form: 248-211

(17)

Lord George⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: George Wood⁽³⁾| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 96

17/2

3-8 record includes two wins on AW surfaces. Yet to prove he stays this far but latest efforts suggest it is worth a go. Stable do well here and he does not have much to find to be in the mix.

Form: 1419-33

(14)

Hot Beat²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: M Harley| T: D M Simcock| OR: 96

25/1

German import who won at Wolverhampton and that form does not warrant his current mark. Third in a slowly run two miler next time and stamina doubts remain after his latest tame effort.

Form: 66/5-130

(18)

My Reward⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 93| D

28/1

Finished mid-division in this last year off 3lb higher. Seems better suited to positive tactics in smaller fields so hard to see this being his kind of race.

Form: 9709-01

(12)

Gavlar^v²²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Callum Shepherd⁽³⁾| T: W J Knight| OR: 93| CD

40/1

Five-time winner with four of those coming on the AW. Latest win came over C&D earlier this year off a lower mark and looks held by Flymetothestars on running here in May.

Form: 418476

(2)

Champagne Champ^p1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: P Hanagan| T: B R Millman| OR: 93| D

25/1

Four of his five wins have come on easy ground. Placed twice on AW surfaces including when 9L behind Flymetothestars here in May. The cheekpieces need to yield significant improvement to reverse those placings

Form: 516-233

(1)

Corton Lad^p,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: Rowan Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 92

100/1

Winner of ten races including two Tapeta victories at Wolverhampton. Struggled in lower grade off this mark last time and well beaten on previous attempts at this trip.

Form: 07-1150

(19)

Sam Missile^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 92

25/1

One of three for his trainer who has an excellent strike rate here. Best efforts have come on AW surfaces but stamina is to be proven and he has a career high mark to overcome.

Form: 124-245

Forecasts

Flymetothestars (11/4), Higher Power (11/2), Seamour (6/1), Natural Scenery (7/1), Lord George (17/2), Jaameh (12/1), Good Run (20/1), Sam Missile (25/1), Sir Chauvelin (25/1), Champagne Champ (25/1), Suegioo (25/1), Hot Beat (25/1), My Reward (28/1), Clever Cookie (33/1), Yorkidding (33/1), Gavlar (40/1), Maleficent Queen (50/1), Winterlude (66/1), Cosmelli (100/1), Corton Lad (100/1)

FLYMETOTHESTARS is hard to overlook despite his unattractive odds. He holds a couple of these judged by his C&D victory in May and the runner-up gave the form a lift at Royal Ascot last week. James Fanshawe's runners are always worthy of closer inspection here. Higher Power chased home the Gold Cup winner last time and Lord George looks the type to improve for the trip. Godolphin took this 12 months ago and neither of their runners have the ideal profile coming into this. Natural Scenery goes well for Josephine Gordon but she needs handling with kid gloves and this may not be the ideal race to do that. Good Run has been below par lately but he could be the type to go better when fresh. Seamour went close 12 months ago and has been trained with a view to going one better this time.