13:05 Newcastle

Friday 17 November 2017

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

Newcastle Flooring Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 5m 42.70s

Chu Chu Percy^v1¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 102| D

6/1

Raised 2lb for a pleasing handicap debut at Ayr late last month (3m heavy) when a 1¼L runner up to Rivabodiva. Less testing conditions might not play to his strengths, but the first time visor could edge out some more improvement.

Form: 1/8P75-2

Bescot Springs^p²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 12-1| J: Thomas Willmott⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 101| D

28/1

Old timer who is a winner of 10 races from 76 starts. Not the force of old, but near enough his last winning mark, and beaten just 1¾L by Buckled at Kelso latest (runner up Too Many Chiefs a winner on Wednesday).

Form: 37-6803

Flemerina¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 98

9/1

Mare who is perhaps best suited by cut, but is versatile and a winner over both 2m1f and 2m7f. Not appeared overly sharp in a couple of recent starts, but dropped 1lb in the weights.

Form: 4241-44

Bertalus¹⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Tony Kelly| T: N W Alexander| OR: 95| D

50/1

Scored on his handicap hurdle debut at Ayr (3m½f, heavy) in early 2016, but a 13lb hike for that proved costly. Better treated now, but off since May and sharper for the run.

Form: 4PP6P-9

Lowcarr Motion^t1⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 90

20/1

Not tasted success since April 2016 (2m5f) despite plenty of attempts; hurdles and chases. Appears short on resolution, but the tongue tie (first time) is worth exploring having exhausted plenty of other options.

Form: 2PPP88

Rock N'stones^p⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Miss E Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 88

66/1

A 14 race maiden with placed hurdles form in the spring months for Mark Walford (2m and 2m4f). Stamina to prove, and a rear division finisher on his recent Sedgefield stable debut (2m4f good).

Form: 2335P9

Bocasien Desbois⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Todhunter| OR: 87| D

25/1

A winning pointer (October 2016) who has had less chances than some under rules. Fallen 8lb for just a couple of starts in handicaps, and whilst at face value that's justifiable, he could prove stronger over 3m.

Form: 8670-77

Vodka Red^p,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 85| C

22/1

His sole career success came here in March 2014 (2m4f+ soft), and this track certainly suits. Raced sparingly since early 2016, but caught the eye under inexperienced handling at Carlisle last month, and no back number, despite this trip.

Form: P823/4-4

Triopas⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey| OR: 85| D

8/11

Taken an eternity to find his feet, but that he has most certainly done, and he's 7lb higher for his 2m7½f (soft) success at Chepstow. Both starts this term offer plenty of promise, and the champion takes over in the saddle.

Form: 57U-031

Kings Eclipse⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: A Wilson| OR: 84| D

10/1

A nine race maiden, but his mark is easing and he's a 3m good ground point-to-point winner (Dawstown, May 2016). Beaten 6L by Alices Man at Hexham in early October, so holds modest place claims.

Form: 349-592

The Conn⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Miss C Walton⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Walton| OR: 77

16/1

A 12 race maiden who could benefit by being ridden more prominently (often held up well off the pace). Finished third at Perth in August (3m soft), and quite possibly that's as good as he actually is.

Form: P75345

Exit To Freedom^v²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 75

66/1

Plenty of changes have taken place at this particular track since his sole career success (at Wetherby) in April 2014. Pulled a rabbit out of the hat when a 3m runner up at Uttoxeter in September, but reverted to type since.

Form: 74U25P

It's A Long Story^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: B Butterworth| OR: 68

50/1

In fact, it's a relatively short story for this one's winning chances. An eight race hurdles maiden who has plummeted down the weights since handicap debut in January (29lb), and now races from out of the weights.

Form: 70-P677

Non-Runners

Angel's Envy²⁷

Weight: 11-8| Age: 5

T: I Jardine J: A Nicol

Rose Tree²²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 4

T: S Corbett J: Non Runner

Fight Away Boys¹⁷¹

Weight: 10-5| Age: 9

T: N W Alexander J: Non Runner

Broadway Belle²⁰

Weight: 10-2| Age: 7

T: C Grant J: Callum Bewley

Forecasts

Triopas (8/11), Chu Chu Percy (6/1), Flemerina (9/1), Kings Eclipse (10/1), Fight Away Boys (12/1), The Conn (16/1), Broadway Belle (16/1), Lowcarr Motion (20/1), Vodka Red (22/1), Bocasien Desbois (25/1), Angel's Envy (25/1), Bescot Springs (28/1), Rose Tree (33/1), It's A Long Story (50/1), Bertalus (50/1), Exit To Freedom (66/1), Rock N'stones (66/1)

Numerically strong, but again relatively short on quality. Chu Chu Percy heads the weights after a pleasing handicap debut at Ayr, but whilst aided by the first time visor today, he might find this good ground a fraction lively. Bescot Springs has seen his recent Kelso effort well advertised, but he's well into his advancing years these days, and you'd need to be bold in order to select Vodka Red over 3m, but it should be noted that he thrives at this track (his local), and he caught the eye at Carlisle under an inexperienced rider. However, it's difficult to look elsewhere other than in the direction of TRIOPAS. Tom Lacey has a 67% strike rate (2 from 3) with his jumps runners at Newcastle, and Richard Johnson travels North for the ride.