12:40 Newcastle

Saturday 16 December 2017

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:35

Betway Stayers Handicap

Off time: 12:41 | Winning time: 3m 33.37s

(10)

Lady Clitico^p³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: D C Costello| T: R Menzies| OR: 65| D

14/1

Took advantage of a falling mark to win in a 2m handicap at Catterick in May but comfortably held in two subsequent starts from 6lb higher. Dropped 2lb here as she searches for a first AW success (currently 0-6).

Form: 585140

(5)

Braes Of Lochalsh^p³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: P J McDonald| T: J S Goldie| OR: 65

14/1

Fair on the Flat especially on a testing surface, with his latest win in that sphere coming off 73. Has to be respected off a mark of 65 for his AW debut but arrives here a little out of sorts.

Form: 525456

(4)

British Art^v²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: G Lee| T: R K Watson| OR: 65| C

11/4

Transformed since a visor was introduced, winning over 1m4f here in September and again last month, having finished a runner-up at Dundalk in between. Slight stamina query over this longer trip off a 7lb higher mark but evidently thriving.

Form: 0-00121

(8)

Senatus^h²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 64| D

4/1

Musselburgh bumper winner last winter but hasn't looked like adding to his tally on the Flat since, albeit over inadequate tests of stamina. Most recent effort over 1m4f here was more encouraging and this trip should be ideal. Respected.

Form: 66475

(3)

Strictly Art¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Harry Burns⁽⁷⁾| T: A Bailey| OR: 62| D

6/1

Consistent performer during the second half of this year, winning turf races at Goodwood and Ripon before relishing the step up to 2m at Lingfield recently, scoring by 3¼L in an amateurs event. More to do off a 5lb higher mark now.

Form: 461221

(13)

Uptown Funk^p⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: A Mullen| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 67

15/2

One of John Gosden's lesser lights this year but has placed on a couple of occasions, most recently when stepped up to 1m6f at Chelmsford where he appeared to be crying out for 2m. Of some interest for a respected new yard.

Form: 562536

(1)

Teak^v¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-8| J: S Donohoe| T: Ian Williams| OR: 60

33/1

Veteran who has not won the Flat for a long time but wasn't beaten far off a higher mark than this at Carlisle earlier in the year. Arrives here on the back of two average runs over hurdles and others look more persuasive.

Form: 962348

(12)

Apalis^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 58

25/1

Three-time Flat winner in France (once on AW) but has shown nothing like that form in GB (also raced over hurdles). Didn't appear to handle the fibresand at Southwell last time and has questions to answer.

Form: 1-75947

(14)

Etaad^b⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Paula Muir⁽⁷⁾| T: L Egerton| OR: 57

80/1

All five career wins have come on AW, the latest in January at Lingfield. Lost his way for Gary Moore and no signs of a revival for this yard, including in two recent starts on fibresand. Others much preferred.

Form: 000055

(6)

Shan Dun Na Ngall^t,v¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 56| CD

18/1

Winner of three of his first four starts for this yard - including this race 12 months ago from a 4lb lower mark - but well beaten in two runs at Lingfield since returning from a lengthy absence. A big threat at his best.

Form: 14-1966

(11)

Traditional Dancer⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: F Norton| T: I Jardine| OR: 49

5/1

Won three times over hurdles but remains a maiden on the Flat. He was a 2L third of 13 behind Hallstatt over C&D in September (3lb higher mark) but not sighted since a lesser effort here in October.

Form: 826359

(7)

La Bacouetteuse^b³⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 8-10| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 48| D

50/1

Stays 2m and has been a great servant in winning 11 races. Age appears to have caught up with him on the evidence of some lacklustre recent efforts but he is now a full stone below his last winning mark.

Form: 337207

(9)

Shulammite Man²⁰⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Sally Haynes| OR: 47

40/1

Eight race maiden on the Flat, usually going off at long odds, and hasn't been seen out since pulling up on his hurdles debut at Market Rasen back in May. Hard to fancy.

Form: 7556-65

(2)

Crakehall Lad^b¹⁰⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: A Crook| OR: 45

50/1

Showed glimmers of form earlier this year when twice a runner-up but beaten out of sight in his last two starts on turf. It's now almost three years since he last got his head in front.

Form: 672298

Forecasts

British Art (11/4), Senatus (4/1), Traditional Dancer (5/1), Strictly Art (6/1), Uptown Funk (15/2), Lady Clitico (14/1), Braes Of Lochalsh (14/1), Shan Dun Na Ngall (18/1), Apalis (25/1), Teak (33/1), Shulammite Man (40/1), La Bacouetteuse (50/1), Crakehall Lad (50/1), Etaad (80/1)

A competitive opener in which recent winners British Art and Strictly Art both merit serious consideration despite higher marks, whilst former John Gosden inmate, Uptown Funk, has to be of some interest on his first start for Keith Dalglish. Preference, however, is for the lightly-raced SENATUS who caught the eye in defeat here last time and who is bound to appreciate this much longer trip having won a 2m bumper last winter.