16:15 Newcastle

Saturday 29 July 2017

All13:2513:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Collingwood Young Driver Insurance Silk Series Lady Riders' Handicap (Pro-Am Lady Riders)

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 2m 13.44s

(2)

Testa Rossa^b⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Ms R Hill⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 82| C| D

9/1

Newcastle regular over the winter months with a course record between September 2016 and February 2017 reading; 2,1,1,3,1,1,4,5,12. Most effective over the straight mile, but has won over this trip in the past. Probably held by the handicapper for now.

Form: 762364

(6)

Green Light^b²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Miss L Wilson| T: B Ellison| OR: 81| D

20/1

Out of sorts for some time, and hasn't won since June 2016 (for Ralph Beckett). Should be competitive from this mark and unexposed on the AW, so not entirely ruled out if this surface can rejuvenate.

Form: 08-4400

(3)

Royal Reserve¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Miss Carly Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 79| BF

10/1

Made a winning stable debut at Wolverhampton (1m4f) earlier in the month, and arguably could have been unbeaten for the yard had he not been set plenty to do at Beverley (1m2f) just seven days later (runner up to Graceful Act). A 5lb rise shouldn't be too problematic based upon his form from earlier in his career and holds strong claims.

Form: 000012

(12)

The Resdev Way⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Shelley Birkett| T: D O'Meara| OR: 78| C

8/1

Standing dish for Richard Whitaker in the early days of racing on Tapeta at Newcastle (won three times). Likes to come swinging into his races (usually over further), and whilst high enough in the weights is an interesting proposition on his first start for this trainer (also saddles Royal Reserve).

Form: 12113-0

(10)

Lac Leman^h²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 76| C| D

9/2

Course winner in February (1m4f) and went down by a short-head next time. Likes to be produced late in the contest, and a drop to this shorter trip is the chief concern. Races from a fair mark.

Form: 123644

(9)

Auspicion²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Ms S Brotherton| T: T P Tate| OR: 74| CD

9/4

Twice a winner over this C&D in his last three starts and arguably didn't get the run of the race on the inner when beaten on the opening day of the Plate Festival. Up a further 3lb for his latest narrow success, but holds claims with the go-to rider for these races booked.

Form: 55-6181

(5)

Thello²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Nicola Currie⁽⁵⁾| T: J Hughes| OR: 70| CD

9/1

Dual C&D winner for Garry Moss during the winter months, but those victories came in a lower grade of race and he races from an 11lb and 7lb higher mark respectively. Done okay in a couple of starts for this new trainer, but not enough to suggest he's a winner in waiting.

Form: 415-124

(11)

Archipeligo^p⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Mrs C Bartley| T: I Jardine| OR: 70| CD

14/1

Hacked up from an 11lb lower mark over C&D in early June, but beaten twice here from this mark since. Seemingly more competitive back on turf lately (twice a runner up over 1m1f at Carlisle and Hamilton), but others look better handicapped now.

Form: 196252

(7)

Island Flame²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Sammy Jo Bell| T: R A Fahey| OR: 69| CD

10/1

C&D winner from a similar mark in September (beat All The Rage by a head), and has kept fair company (mainly over further) since. Likely best suited by this trip and the bonus of being partnered by a rider that will know her very well from home, but needs to show more than at Doncaster earlier in the month.

Form: 43-9537

(1)

Duke Of Yorkshire^p¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Mrs Emily Roberts| T: T D Easterby| OR: 67| D

20/1

Placed in a couple of similar contests over this trip at Lingfield and Newbury in June, but not so strong over longer trips more latterly. Has won for this rider on Tapeta at Wolverhampton previously.

Form: 0-02355

(8)

Sikandar^p,t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Ella McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 63| D

50/1

Not won since taking a Bangor maiden hurdle in November 2015 and impossible to fancy on what he's shown over a variety of trips so far in 2017. Stablemate of Green Light and Steel Helmet.

Form: 0-09806

(4)

Steel Helmet³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Amie Waugh| T: B Ellison| OR: 60

16/1

Eight race maiden and stablemate of Green Light and Sikander. The visor was discarded when dropped in trip to 1m here at the Plate Festival when producing a career best second to Belisa. Raised 1lb for that improved effort and back up to 1m2f. Could be more to come and has claims.

Form: 70-5782

Forecasts

Auspicion (9/4), Lac Leman (9/2), The Resdev Way (8/1), Thello (9/1), Testa Rossa (9/1), Royal Reserve (10/1), Island Flame (10/1), Archipeligo (14/1), Steel Helmet (16/1), Duke Of Yorkshire (20/1), Green Light (20/1), Sikandar (50/1)

A Pro-Am race for Lady Riders which features previous Newcastle winners galore and doubles up as the latest leg of the 2017 Silk Series. We've got to know many of these horses like members of our extended families over the past twelve months, with stable switcher The Resdev Way an early Tapeta specialist, and the likes of Testa Rossa, Lac Leman, Auspicion and Thello all thoroughly reliable at this track over varying trips. However, the vote goes to ROYAL RESERVE. He has bounced right back to form since joining David O'Meara, and should be unbeaten for this trainer (set plenty to do by Shelley Birkett latest).