19:15 Newcastle

Friday 24 November 2017

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

Betway Handicap

Off time: 19:17 | Winning time: 58.81s

(8)

Lathom¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: G Lee| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 76| D

4/1

Winner of the Super Sprint for Richard Fahey in 2015 and has drawn a blank in 21 starts since. Has a new career low mark to race off but he continues to deceive.

Form: 447454

(12)

Apricot Sky^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 75| BF| D

25/1

Lacks consistency but a change of tactics and headgear prompted an upset of an odds-on favourite in a Catterick claimer. Beaten in a more competitive race since and tackles a new surface off a mark that is up with events.

Form: 007317

(3)

Coto⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: M J Tynan| OR: 74| CD

10/1

Irish raider who is unbeaten on two previous visits here. Returned from a 17 month break last week when not beaten far and she will be a lot sharper now.

Form: 61183-9

(7)

Big Lachie²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: J Garritty| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 72| D

7/1

Winner for Jamie Osborne on this surface at Wolverhampton 12 month ago. Glimmers of that ability this term but has really improved in the past few weeks. Last run suggested he was close to his peak and that makes him dangerous.

Form: 677942

(11)

Dundunah^t⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 72| D

25/1

Went close on her AW debut over C&D in May (third to Intense Romance) and has improved since then, winning at Haydock in July. However, not so sharp most latterly and a few questions to be answered now.

Form: 512777

(6)

Casterbridge^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: T Eaves| T: E J Alston| OR: 71| CD

4/1

Clearly likes it here as he showed when beating Big Lachie last month. Closely matched with that rival but had the run of the race that day. There would appear to be more competition for the lead here but he remains a leading contender.

Form: 557421

(14)

Bondi Beach Boy¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 69| D

25/1

Chucked in off this mark on the best of his form and new yard look to be coaxing him back to form if his latest efforts are anything to go by. No disgrace last time when there were problems discarding the blindfold

Form: 30-0474

(2)

Poppy In The Wind^v¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: J Quinn| T: A D Brown| OR: 68| CD

9/1

Dual C&D winner who has also won here on turf. Landed two races around this point last year and has dropped between those two winning marks. Two runs back from a mid-season break should have her ready to run a big race.

Form: 624066

(9)

Roaring Rory^p¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁵⁾| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 64| D

14/1

Winner at Southwell last time but also has two successes on tapeta. Beat two higher rated rivals that day in a claimer, however the form looks misleading with the runner-up well beaten next time.

Form: 531381

(1)

Astrophysics²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: J Fanning| T: Miss L C Siddall| OR: 64| D

10/1

Yet to run a bad race here but record of 2-31 leaves him one for the brave. Work to do with Casterbridge and Big Lachie on running last time, but having uncharacteristically missed the break he should be much closer now.

Form: 226826

(5)

Young Tiger^h²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: A Mullen| T: T P Tate| OR: 63| CD

11/2

Form has taken off since the fitting of a hood. Beat little last time but completely outclassed that field and a 12lb rise in the weights necessitates a rise in grade. Hard to dismiss given his current form.

Form: 700211

(13)

Naples Bay¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 62| D

66/1

Winner on soft ground on track debut but has not promised to add to that since. Switch to this surface last time did little to suggest he was any closer.

Form: 28-5860

(4)

Oriental Lilly⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Sean Mooney⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 62

40/1

The only one of these awaiting a win but went close in a couple of handicaps this summer off this mark. Given a break since a disappointing run last time and stable have been in better form lately.

Form: 522538

Non-Runners

(10)

Logi²²

Weight: 9-4| Age: 3

T: R C Guest J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Casterbridge (4/1), Lathom (4/1), Young Tiger (11/2), Big Lachie (7/1), Poppy In The Wind (9/1), Astrophysics (10/1), Coto (10/1), Logi (10/1), Roaring Rory (14/1), Dundunah (25/1), Apricot Sky (25/1), Bondi Beach Boy (25/1), Oriental Lilly (40/1), Naples Bay (66/1)

A few of these arrive in good shape and YOUNG TIGER has improved at a rapid rate. The handicapper has taken note but he was so impressive last time he is hard to overlook. Casterbridge had a couple of these behind here last time when making most of the running. He faces more competition up front this time and Big Lachie may take his measure this time. Poppy In The Wind and Astrophysics like it here as does Cato ,who is unbeaten and travels over from Ireland following a pipeopener last week.