17:10 Newcastle

Friday 8 September 2017

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:40

Turner & Townsend Handicap (Div 2)

Off time: 17:11 | Winning time: 1m 27.87s

(14)

Rose Eclair^p¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Cam Hardie| T: T D Easterby| OR: 59| BF

14/1

Far from a frequent winner (2 from 28), and never beyond 5f. This 7f trip appears too far, but in reasonable form during August hitting the frame twice over 6f at Redcar and Thirsk.

Form: 362736

(13)

Mr Potter^e/s,h1¹⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: F Norton| T: R C Guest| OR: 57| CD

8/1

Regularly looks the type to need all of the cards to drop his way in order to score, but he does bring C&D winning form to the table (November 2016). Back fresh and geared up for another winter, with the hood a notable addition.

Form: 445145

(4)

Dream Revival⁴⁸⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P Aspell| T: Paul Collins| OR: 56

33/1

Seven race maiden for James Unett, but has finished in the frame on a few occasions at Wolverhampton. Dropped 2lb since her May third to Moi Aussie (7f Tapeta), and now with a new trainer.

Form: 0/22553-

(6)

Windforpower^p⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Barry McHugh| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 56| C

20/1

Proved himself a solid 5f handicapper at this track on the AW (dual winner), and very much the type to withstand regular racing. Raced five times last month and dropping in the weights, but unproven over this trip.

Form: 625655

(8)

Fikhaar²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 58

5/1

Not shown masses in three runs in maidens, but could do better now sent handicapping, and this race represents a sensible starting point.

Form: 977

(9)

Jack Blane^p⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: A Mullen| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 57| D

11/4

Running creditably on turf lately, but won just once in 12 starts (over 7f at Wolverhampton in March). Makes his Newcastle debut, but with clear signs that the handicapper has him just about right.

Form: 452423

(3)

Cool Strutter²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: S H James| T: K Tutty| OR: 53| CD

5/1

2016 winner of this contest who has proved extremely difficult to win with since. Often suggests that his turn is near; and it should be from a reduced mark of 53, but generally can't quite (or won't) sustain an effort.

Form: 224404

(2)

Broctune Papa Gio^p1¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 9-3| J: P Mathers| T: G Boanas| OR: 52| D

10/1

Goes best at Redcar, but has also raced consistently over 1m at this track without quite managing to win. The handicapper seems to be giving this likeable veteran every assistance, and the first time cheek-pieces could potentially also be a plus.

Form: 230546

(1)

State Residence^t,v⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Josh Doyle⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 56| BF

9/1

Made all in the first-time visor and tongue tie combination to score over 6f at Redcar last month. Folded tamely when turned out quickly at Catterick later that week, but possibilities over this extra furlong if back to his best.

Form: 945315

(10)

Baby Helmet⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Shane Gray| T: K Tutty| OR: 55

40/1

Stablemate of Cool Strutter. Eight race maiden who has shown no worthwhile form and looks harshly treated on the AW from a 7lb higher mark than on turf.

Form: 399070

(7)

Peny Arcade²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: P Hanagan| T: A C Whillans| OR: 50| CD

12/1

Surprise winner of a fairly dire C&D maiden in November 2016, but unable to make her mark in handicap company since and now slides to a career low mark of 50.

Form: 766066

Non-Runners

(5)

Pepys³⁵

Weight: 9-6| Age: 3

T: B Smart J: Adam J McNamara

(11)

Jacob Black²⁹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 6

T: Kenny Johnson J: P Makin

(12)

Atrafan¹³

Weight: 8-12| Age: 3

T: A D Brown J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Jack Blane (11/4), Fikhaar (5/1), Cool Strutter (5/1), Mr Potter (8/1), Pepys (8/1), State Residence (9/1), Broctune Papa Gio (10/1), Peny Arcade (12/1), Rose Eclair (14/1), Atrafan (14/1), Windforpower (20/1), Dream Revival (33/1), Baby Helmet (40/1), Jacob Black (50/1)

Seemingly the weaker of the two divisions of this 7f handicap, and a race in which 6f Redcar winner State Residence will be popular in the market for David O'Meara. He seems to handle synthetics, and might be worth excusing for a moderate Catterick showing subsequently (race came too quickly). 2016 winner Cool Strutter is handicapped to run a solid race, but he's tough to win with and at likely bigger odds I'd be more inclined to trust the admirable veteran Broctune Papa Gio, who the handicapper is trying to give one more winning opportunity to. However, in a race where many will struggle to get the 7f trip, and nothing makes any significant appeal, 7f Wolverhampton winner JACK BLANE gets the nod.