14:00 Newcastle

Saturday 23 December 2017

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

bet365 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 4m 3.50s

Age Of Glory³⁰⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: Sean Quinlan| T: B Butterworth| OR: 102

33/1

Fairly lightly raced over the past couple of seasons and not seen out since February, but has won after an absence and mark has fallen to one that looks dangerous. Worth a look in the market, with conditions fine.

Form: 455/737-

Nailer^h1,t¹⁰⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: T Davidson| OR: 102

25/1

Has run to a similar level on last three starts in hurdles, and goes handicapping on a fair mark. Trip and ground ideal, good jockey booking and if fit after an absence, can't be ruled out easily. Wears a first time hood.

Form: 6/9P-443

Dakota Grey²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Joe Wright⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 101

11/2

Very well handicapped on the pick of his form as a novice in early 2016, and showed much more when beaten just over 3L at Carlisle earlier in the month (2m1f soft). Risky, but thrown in at his best.

Form: PPP-643

Baby Ticker²⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 99

33/1

Ducked out close home when firmly in command at Sedgefield in January (2m1f good to soft), and she's blown her mark accordingly. Off since March, so probably not the solution to this puzzle.

Form: 43/9U25-

Freewheel²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: A Nicol| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 99

80/1

Hasn't done much 'freewheeling' since switched to hurdles, and was soon struggling on his stable debut at Wetherby in November (pulled up), so couldn't be considered in the slightest.

Form: P4-35P

Bering Upsun^h⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 98

7/2

Went into handicaps on a fair mark at Carlisle last time (2m1f) and duly showed there's races to be won with him with a staying-on third to Chozen. On the same mark and this is a weaker race, so holds an obvious chance with improvement likely.

Form: 0/4548-3

Catchthemoonlight²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 97| D

16/1

Ducks a rematch with Our Valentina in the earlier mares race in order to contest this open looking handicap. Doesn't win all that often, but handles most ground conditions. Possibly flattered by her latest improved effort at Carlisle (2m4f soft).

Form: 1U-55P3

The Compeller^p,t⁵⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 95

50/1

A Ballinrobe Flat winner for Ken Condon in July 2015, this five-year-old has fallen 17lb for three starts in handicap hurdles. However, the problem is that he hasn't shown much and is racing for the first time since May 2016.

Form: 336/6P-

Short Flight²¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 94

7/1

Lightly raced maiden under rules. Off the track since May, but has fallen 4lb in the weights, and this race is just his second start in handicap company. Positive jockey booking.

Form: 3/87P3-6

Getonsam^t²²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: J C Haynes| OR: 90

40/1

Goes handicapping on his first start since May off a platers mark, but in truth he's looked a difficult ride in the majority of his races, and will have no chance if continuing to pull hard for his head early doors.

Form: 6776-76

Morning With Ivan^t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 86| D

9/2

Won back-to-back handicaps at Cartmel (2m1f) and at Market Rasen (2m+) either side of foaling. Up 7lb for her latest success, but still relishes her racing, and that counts for plenty in this company.

Form: 49/721-1

Vodka Red^p,t³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 84| C

8/1

Strike rate of 1-25 tells you plenty, but at least that win came here and he didn't stay 3m latest. Always vulnerable to an improver and only moderate, but should run his race at his favoured local track.

Form: 823/4-47

The Lady Rules¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-11| J: Jamie Hamilton⁽³⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 97

25/1

Steps outside of juvenile company for the first time over hurdles, and truthfully that looks a leap into the abyss at this stage of her career. Lowly rated, but hasn't shown anything to enthuse over.

Form: 543

Christmas In Usa^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 84

11/2

Has fallen a long way in the weights, and this 20 race maiden can probably exploit that fact at some point. Beaten just over 11L when fourth to Main Fact at Sedgefield latest (2m1f soft), so has realistic place claims.

Form: 40-6P64

Cully Mac^p1⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: A Wilson| OR: 75

25/1

Has failed to produce any worthwhile form over hurdles, falling 17lb since being allocated a handicap mark. Not raced since early October, and it can only be hoped that the cheek-pieces have a galvanising impact. No chance.

Form: 779P-P0

Forecasts

Bering Upsun (7/2), Morning With Ivan (9/2), Christmas In Usa (11/2), Dakota Grey (11/2), Short Flight (7/1), Vodka Red (8/1), Catchthemoonlight (16/1), The Lady Rules (25/1), Cully Mac (25/1), Nailer (25/1), Baby Ticker (33/1), Age Of Glory (33/1), Getonsam (40/1), The Compeller (50/1), Freewheel (80/1)

Strong in numbers, but with respect to connections that's about all this race has to offer. Morning With Ivan isn't blessed with the most ability in the world, but she's a tough mare who returned to racing after foaling with a success at Market Rasen last month, and that sort of determination will always stand her in good stead in this company. Christmas In USA is a 20-race maiden, but can compete from his current mark, and seeks to give his Fife based handler some festive cheer with realistic place prospects. However, the somewhat risky solution could come in the shape of the Micky Hammond trained DAKOTA GREY. He has much more ability than the majority of these, and despite that ability languishing in the wilderness for over 18 months now, he's potentially thrown in off his current mark, and this is exactly the type of contest in which you can afford to take a speculative punt on a revival from a well treated animal.