12:50 Newcastle

Saturday 23 December 2017

All11:4512:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:10

bet365 Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 5m 16.90s

Conquer Gold³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: N G Richards| OR: 118| BF

3/1

A winner over fences at Bangor in March (3m), this mare returned to action over hurdles this term with a fairly flat effort at Ayr in November. Drops 2lb in the weights, but looks risky off top-weight over this trip.

Form: 52214-7

Our Valentina^v1²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 109

13/8

2m Navan winner in April who has found further improvement since switched to handicaps, and was a winner of a Class 2 contest over this trip at Carlisle earlier this month. Higher in the weights, but with a visor applied seeking more success.

Form: 2315-41

Beyondtemptation^h,t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: J C Haynes| OR: 104| C

14/1

11-time career winner who is something of a Hexham specialist. However, she did win a small race over 2m here in February from a similar mark, but is opposed on balance being badly out of sorts since late spring.

Form: 53P0P6

Reivers Lodge^h,t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 104

4/1

A winner from a 9lb lower mark at Kelso in late October (2m6f+ good), this mare has found this mark beyond her since, and was only 28+L fifth of ten to stablemate Ebony Rose at Carlisle latest.

Form: 232135

Miss Tiggy⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 103

7/1

Back from 13 months off the track at Ayr last month (2m heavy), with a gritty neck success from Cockley Beck. Up 4lb, and in trip, but neither should bother her, so she should figure in the shake up.

Form: 62P3/0-1

Side Of The Road²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 99

20/1

Lightly raced maiden, but one who has yet to be seen in any form of positive light. Well beaten in a 2m4f Carlisle novices hurdle latest, and now goes handicapping for the first time, which is likely to be to her benefit.

Form: 957-59

Barely Black¹⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: J Kington⁽³⁾| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 99

18/1

Fairly lightly raced maiden who has been absent since mid-July when a 7L runner up to the long odds on The Wicket Chicken at Southwell (2m4f good). Worth a quick glance in the market ahead of her handicap debut.

Form: 9-6242

Olivia Joan³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 98

33/1

Hard to draw all that many positives from her efforts so far, although she did show more promise before hitting the deck in novice company at Ayr latest. Seemingly needs this switch to handicap company.

Form: 9/6-0P7F

Forecasts

Our Valentina (13/8), Conquer Gold (3/1), Reivers Lodge (4/1), Miss Tiggy (7/1), Beyondtemptation (14/1), Barely Black (18/1), Side Of The Road (20/1), Olivia Joan (33/1)

As is often the case with these type of races, this isn't the deepest contest. Recent Ayr winner Miss Tiggy is likely to be involved despite the step up in trip this afternoon from just a 4lb higher mark, but this race should go to the first time visored Irish mare OUR VALENTINA. She was successful in stronger company on Northern Lights Finals Day at Carlisle earlier this month, and J.J.Slevin retains the ride seeking a winner on his first ever ride at Gosforth Park.