20:15 Newcastle

Friday 3 November 2017

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:4521:15

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 20:16 | Winning time: 58.91s

(6)

Kodicat^p1¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 70| D

9/1

Sole success came over the minimum distance at Catterick (good to firm) back in April. In good form lately and close second over 6f at Wolverhampton bodes well dropping to this trip from 1lb higher with first-time cheekpieces on.

Form: 044323

(12)

Big Lachie¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 70| D

7/1

In decent form lately on AW over 6f at Wolverhampton and Kempton without necessarily screaming of being a winner in waiting. Has won over this trip on turf, but a bit more called for at the moment.

Form: 467794

(13)

Joey's Destiny²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: D C Costello| T: K Frost| OR: 69| D

16/1

Won on the AW at Wolverhampton in July over 7f, but disappointing since, including on latest two runs over 6f since joining this yard. Hard to be confident at the moment.

Form: 810609

(7)

Mr Strutter^h⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: Ronald Thompson| OR: 67| D

14/1

Came good in a selling handicap at Thirsk at the beginning of September, well beaten over 6f at Wolverhampton having joined this yard and now winless in six AW starts.

Form: 172216

(3)

Casterbridge^p¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Hart| T: E J Alston| OR: 67| D

7/2

Won over this trip on turf at Leicester from mark of 70 in May, best effort since came over C&D 10 days ago and must enter calculations off same mark now.

Form: 855742

(2)

Control Centre^b1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Barry McHugh| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 67

25/1

Returned from a break with tame effort over 6f here last month. Down in trip this time and first-time blinkers are added. Others seem more likely.

Form: 163040

(1)

Hamish Mcgonagain^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 67| D

14/1

Three-time winner this year, most recently over this trip at Nottingham in August. Had a short break after that and went off at a silly pace over 6f here a fortnight ago, ensuring he finished tamely. Not totally out of it with more patient approach.

Form: 543150

(8)

Perfect Words^p²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 67| D

50/1

Capable of winning races (3-13 this year all on turf). Just four starts on the AW and needs to improve on previous C&D effort.

Form: 151300

(10)

Savannah Beau^p,h¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: P Makin| T: D Shaw| OR: 66| C| D

14/1

Handicapper slow to relent after a rather hit-and-miss season but now 1lb lower than for 6f win here last year, ability to reproduce that is rather to be taken on trust.

Form: 828946

(9)

Astrophysics²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: P J McDonald| T: Miss L C Siddall| OR: 66| D

5/1

Record is 2-30, with both of those wins being on fast ground over 5f/6f. Finished 4L second of 14 at Redcar (5f, good to soft) off this mark recently behind easy front-running winner and can have a say in this contest if repeating that effort.

Form: 222682

(14)

First Bombardment²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Patrick Vaughan⁽⁷⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 65| CD

14/1

Now 15lb lower than when scoring over C&D in October 2016 (off a fierce pace), but has endured a fairly torrid time on turf throughout 2017 and similar fate back here 24 days ago. Risky proposition for now.

Form: 465000

(11)

Pearl Acclaim⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: D Allan| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 65| D

22/1

Have to go back to 2015 for his last win and a whopping 37 opportunities have come and gone since, 0-13 on artificial surfaces so far and others preferred.

Form: 752269

(4)

Ambitious Icarus^p,e/s,h¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: F Norton| T: R C Guest| OR: 59| CD

9/1

Previous C&D winner, tongue strap on for first time when respectable fourth of 15 in handicap at Nottingham (5f, good) 16 days ago. Full range of head gear retained and runs off the same mark so must be given a chance.

Form: 343334

(5)

Groundworker^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Josephine Gordon| T: P T Midgley| OR: 58| CD

16/1

Two-time C&D winner, one of which came from this rating (other from 4lb lower), anything but reliable but certainly could get involved on a going day.

Form: 554100

Forecasts

Casterbridge (7/2), Astrophysics (5/1), Big Lachie (7/1), Ambitious Icarus (9/1), Kodicat (9/1), First Bombardment (14/1), Hamish Mcgonagain (14/1), Savannah Beau (14/1), Mr Strutter (14/1), Groundworker (16/1), Joey's Destiny (16/1), Pearl Acclaim (22/1), Control Centre (25/1), Perfect Words (50/1)

Kodicat gained the only victory of her career over this trip and she's been in good heart of late. The first-time cheekpieces could see her over the line if maintaining her recent good efforts. Casterbridge is now 3lb below his Leicester winning mark and ran well over this C&D last time out, ensuring he's on the list. Ambitious Icarus is former C&D scorer who ran well at Nottingham last time to serve notice of his chance but ASTROPHYSICS earns the nod on the back of a good second of his own at Redcar last month. He's been threatening on turf and might now go through with it to win on his AW return. Groundworker isn't exactly consistent but gained his second C&D win in September and is weighted to go well if fancying the job.