20:30 Newcastle

Tuesday 10 October 2017

All17:2517:5518:2518:5519:3020:0020:3021:00

George F White Handicap

Off time: 20:33 | Winning time: 1m 39.71s

(11)

Timeless Art^e/s³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: C Lee⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 85| D

16/1

Poached an early lead and was never threatened when scoring by 2½L at Kempton (1m) on his penultimate start, but not able to repeat the trick from a 5lb higher mark back there subsequently. Vulnerable off top-weight.

Form: 543910

(14)

Poet's Beauty^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: I Mohammed| OR: 85| D

25/1

Back from 14 months off the track at Redcar last month (1m soft) and was entitled to need that race. Hard to know exactly what to expect from this two time turf winner on his AW debut.

Form: 25/121-9

(12)

Tiercel³⁷²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: S De Sousa| T: R Varian| OR: 84| D

2/1

Arrives seeking a hat-trick, but has yet to race this year having been absent since scoring by a head at Windsor in October 2016 (1m good to soft). Polytrack, but not Tapeta proven, but a worthy contender from just 4lb higher if fully fit.

Form: 37/511-

(9)

Alexandrakollontai^b⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Rowan Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 82| CD

33/1

Badly out of form on turf on her last four starts, but is a useful mare on her day and does boast C&D winning form. However, she's 5lb higher than for that November 2016 success, so has to prove herself all over again.

Form: 717675

(1)

Prost¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: P Mulrennan| T: E F Vaughan| OR: 84

16/1

A winner of a Polytrack maiden over an extended 7f at Deauville in December 2016, but not quite strong enough from slightly higher marks in UK turf handicaps during late summer. Eased a fraction and switches back to the AW (unbeaten).

Form: 51-4726

(10)

Harlow^h⁸⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Josephine Gordon| T: H Palmer| OR: 84| CD

7/1

Kept on strongly to dispatch Trenchard by 5L in a C&D maiden in March, but hasn't set the world alight in handicaps since (especially over longer trips on turf). Back following a short break, and one to note if the market speaks in his favour.

Form: 1387

(7)

Testa Rossa^b⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Sean Mooney⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 80| CD

25/1

Solid performer at this track, and most consistent over this straight mile (four time C&D winner). Just failed to reel in Mon Beau Visage by a short-head at Redcar latest (1m good to firm) and much respected back here despite his lofty mark.

Form: 364862

(5)

Zymyran^h³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 83| CD

11/1

Looked to be a horse with a future when a ready winner on his sole visit to this track in September 2016, and whilst he's maybe not quite fulfilled that potential, he's proved solid of late. Likely contender.

Form: 495164

(2)

Waarif⁴⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 79| D

10/1

Picked up for 23,000 gns last October having landed a minor race at Dundalk (1m) for Kevin Prendergast. Slow to make his debut for new connections and despite a pedigree for the AW, that's a major concern.

Form: 641-

(13)

Omeros²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: J Mitchell| T: H Palmer| OR: 82| D

17/2

His best form so far has come on the Polytrack at Chelmsford (1m maiden winner on debut in October 2016). Well beaten on soft ground at Redcar latest, and Josephine Gordon opts to partner stablemate Harlow tonight.

Form: 1-5537

(3)

Thomas Cranmer²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 81| D

66/1

Nowehere near his best since winning at Musselburgh in June (made all), and yet to fully prove himself on synthetics, so looks one to be cautious about despite a fast sliding handicap mark.

Form: 650666

(6)

Madroos⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 78| BF| D

22/1

Winner of a 1m Gowran Park maiden for Kevin Prendergast in June 2016, and consistent since joining this trainer for 3,000 gns. Not quite strong enough, and this is competitive, but perhaps one to note for the future with limited AW experience.

Form: 237334

(8)

Auspicion¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: A Mullen| T: T P Tate| OR: 78| CD

11/1

Strong in the stamina department and is a three time course winner (1m2f x2, and over C&D in early September). His mark is steadily rising, and he was just under 5L fourth to Fayez (Rashford's Double second) over C&D latest.

Form: 173914

(4)

Rashford's Double^p³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 81| BF| CD

12/1

Below par when 7/2f at Redcar on Saturday, and in some ways it's a shame he lined up there given his strong previous C&D form. A course record of 1,1,2 is most appealing, and he saw off all bar Fayez when beaten by 1¼L here recently.

Form: 025420

Forecasts

Tiercel (2/1), Harlow (7/1), Omeros (17/2), Waarif (10/1), Zymyran (11/1), Auspicion (11/1), Rashford's Double (12/1), Prost (16/1), Timeless Art (16/1), Madroos (22/1), Testa Rossa (25/1), Poet's Beauty (25/1), Alexandrakollontai (33/1), Thomas Cranmer (66/1)

A cracking contest which will surely produce plenty of future winners, and features a number of Newcastle regulars who always command much respect; namely Testa Rossa and Auspicion. However, there are a few more unexposed sorts lurking, including the returning Tiercel. The Roger Varian trained colt has been off since October 2016, but is AW proven (Polytrack), and could prove reasonably treated from just a 4lb higher mark if fit enough to do himself justice, with the booking of Silvestre De Sousa an added plus. Support for Harlow could be informative, whilst Rashford's Double would've made major appeal but for his poor effort at Redcar on Saturday. However, it is ZYMYRAN who gets the nod, as he returns to the scene of his very taking C&D nursery success (September 2016) in fairly decent shape for the ever respected Simcock and Spencer partnership.