21:00 Newcastle

Tuesday 10 October 2017

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

My Name's Doddie Foundation Handicap

Off time: 21:04 | Winning time: 1m 25.32s

(2)

Hemingway^p⁸⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 77

18/1

Runner up to the classy Wick Powell over 6f here in March on AW debut, but has proved an in and out performer since then. Off since July and could return stronger with the stables early season troubles now firmly in the past.

Form: 9-28305

(12)

Zamjar¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: S De Sousa| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 76| C

15/8

Just ½L behind Hemingway when third to Wick Powell over 6f here in March, and has won since then (Chester, 6f good). Didn't get the best of passages when fifth to Cool Team over 1m here recently, and this 7f trip could be ideal.

Form: 975365

(1)

Navarone^t¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 75| D

16/1

Beaten 5L by Hugin in a C&D maiden on his sole AW start to date (May), but has gone off the boil a fraction since winning on his very next start at Beverley in June (7½f soft). Easing in the weights.

Form: 124875

(3)

Clock Chimes²⁰⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: P J McDonald| T: D H Brown| OR: 74| D

14/1

47,000 gns foal (£36,000 juvenile) who has only experienced the Fibresand at Southwell in a brief career to date. Stayed on strongly to score at the second attempt over 7f in March (maiden), and switches to Tapeta after a break for his handicap bow.

Form: 21

(8)

Alfie's Angel²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 74

20/1

Both career successes have come over 6f (Pontefract and Ayr), and whilst he's proved versatile in terms of underfoot conditions, he would appear a fraction vulnerable over this stiff 7f for his AW debut.

Form: 166160

(4)

Kreb's Cycle^p⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Ian Williams| OR: 72

5/1

Useful early season juvenile for Richard Hannon in 2016, but disappointing since joining new connections for 27,000 gns in October 2016. Falling in the weights; dropped 11lb in 2017, and tries the AW for just the third time. Newcastle debut.

Form: 860447

(10)

Portledge¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: J D Bethell| OR: 71

4/1

11 race maiden who hasn't fully capitalised on some early promise. Solid enough, but unspectacular in two starts at this track last month, and whilst he should win here eventually, he might need to ease a few more pounds in the weights first.

Form: 337349

(5)

Miss Sheridan⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 70| D

28/1

A three time winner on turf this season (7f, and 1m x2), but has risen sharply in the weights. Out of her depth in Class 3 events the past twice, but this is more suitable as she seeks to exploit a lower AW mark.

Form: 161260

(7)

Used To Be⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: B A Curtis| T: K R Burke| OR: 66

33/1

A 10 race maiden who hasn't kept the best of form during 2017, but was admittedly highly tried in a 1m conditions stakes at Ripon on his latest start. Back in trip for his AW debut from a reduced mark needing more.

Form: 5-07634

(6)

Red Gunner²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: P Makin| T: D O'Meara| OR: 66| D

12/1

Not won since November 2016 (7f Wolverhampton maiden for William Haggas). Cost 28,000 gns in February, but has made little impression in six starts for this trainer, and was dropped into a Kempton classified claiming stakes latest.

Form: 986705

(11)

Champion Harbour²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 61| BF| C

14/1

Won just once in 19 career starts, but that was over 1m here in May, and he's just 2lb higher tonight. Runner up to Riponian at Musselburgh latest (7f+ soft), but beaten 3L, and that was in a lower grade contest than this race.

Form: 343042

Non-Runners

(9)

Van Velde²¹

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: J & S Quinn J: Jason Hart

Forecasts

Zamjar (15/8), Portledge (4/1), Kreb's Cycle (5/1), Van Velde (6/1), Red Gunner (12/1), Clock Chimes (14/1), Champion Harbour (14/1), Navarone (16/1), Hemingway (18/1), Alfie's Angel (20/1), Miss Sheridan (28/1), Used To Be (33/1)

Those towards the top end of the weights boast the strongest form on offer with Hemingway and ZAMJAR fairly closely matched on their 6f course form from March, when second and third respectively to the talented Wick Powell. However, the selection has progressed the most since then, and he was noted as slightly unlucky in the run when fifth to Cool Team in a decent 1m contest here in late September. Of the others, both Clock Chimes and Van Velde are open to improvement on their handicap debuts, and whilst the former has only AW experience at Southwell on his CV to date, any sustained market support should probably be followed.