13:30 Newcastle

Thursday 4 January 2018

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1015:4516:2016:55

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 3m 34.94s

(9)

Lungarno Palace^v1²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: G Lee| T: J Gallagher| OR: 66

12/1

Three time winner but lightly raced in recent times and finished well beaten on both starts in 2017. Wears a visor for the first time today.

Form: 5353/00-

(8)

Strictly Art¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Harry Burns⁽⁷⁾| T: A Bailey| OR: 63| D

15/8

In good form in recent starts and winning for the second time on the AW when successful in an amateur riders handicap at Lingfield last month. Finished a good second subsequently and is a leading contender today.

Form: 612212-

(5)

Rubenesque^t¹²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: S Donohoe| T: Gemma Anderson| OR: 60| D

9/1

Victorious over this trip at Tramore (yielding) in August. Ran well to finish fourth over 1m6f at Navan subsequently and is worth a check in the market on his debut for a new yard.

Form: 2P2214-

(12)

Apalis^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 60| CD

7/2

Put a disappointing effort on the fibresand behind him when winning over C&D last month. Races off a 2lb higher mark today and is an interesting runner in this contest.

Form: 759471-

(6)

Thankyou Very Much^b,t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: P J McDonald| T: J D Bethell| OR: 55| D

11/1

Finished runner-up over C&D in October but has disappointed in two of his three subsequent starts including over fences last time out. Hood worn in a handicap chase last time is absent today.

Form: 4848/27-

(10)

Dream Serenade^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Keelan Baker⁽⁷⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 51

10/1

Finished third on each of her last three outings in middle distance handicaps at Southwell and Wolverhampton. Has run well over this trip in the past and is one to note in this contest.

Form: 090333-

(3)

Indian Red⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Joey Haynes| T: M H Tompkins| OR: 55

15/2

Seven race maiden and put in his best effort in four handicap starts when finishing fifth over this trip at Kempton two months ago. Races off a 2lb lower mark today.

Form: 440775-

(11)

Hugoigo¹⁷⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 55

33/1

Well held in maiden company over middle distances on turf last year. Unraced since finishing 23L fifth of six at Ayr (good) in July and making his handicap debut today.

Form: 555-

(2)

Pantomime^p1¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: A Mullen| T: R Menzies| OR: 49

25/1

Showed signs of ability at two when trained in Ireland but held since joining this yard and cheekpieces are tried for the first time stepping up in trip.

Form: 4600/56-

(1)

Jan Smuts^p,t⁶⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 8-7| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: W Storey| OR: 47| CD

22/1

Successful once from 19 starts on the AW and well held over C&D back in October. Finished well beaten on turf subsequently and racing from out of the handicap today.

Form: 724675-

(4)

La Bacouetteuse^p¹⁹

Age: 13| Weight: 8-7| J: K T O'Neill| T: I Jardine| OR: 45| D

66/1

Winner of 11 races on turf but failed to trouble the judge in four outings on the AW so far. Finished well beaten here on his most recent start and racing from out of the handicap today.

Form: 372070-

(7)

Archibelle¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Noel Garbutt⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 53

50/1

12 race maiden ran well over an extended 1m4f in a maiden here on her penultimate outing. Well beaten since and racing from out of the handicap stepping up in trip.

Form: 658837-

Forecasts

Strictly Art (15/8), Apalis (7/2), Indian Red (15/2), Rubenesque (9/1), Dream Serenade (10/1), Thankyou Very Much (11/1), Lungarno Palace (12/1), Jan Smuts (22/1), Pantomime (25/1), Hugoigo (33/1), Archibelle (50/1), La Bacouetteuse (66/1)

STRICTLY ART can continue his good run of form by going one place better than when finishing second here last month. The selection is taken to reverse form with the surprise winner on that occasion Apalis on these terms while Dream Serenade who has been running well over shorter in recent starts can claim third having won over this distance in the past.