15:10 Newcastle

Thursday 4 January 2018

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

Betway Classified Stakes

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 2m 9.73s

(4)

Brotherly Company¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 77| D

66/1

Pulled up over hurdles on debut for this yard last month but put in a better effort when finishing 6L last of six in a 1m3f handicap at Southwell six days later. Interesting runner today.

Form: 31436/6-

(7)

Desert Ruler²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 76

5/2

Highly tried when tackling a Class 2 contest following a good second at Kempton over 1m3f in October and well held on hurdling debut last time. Drop in grade should see him in a better light.

Form: 22229-

(3)

Freewheel¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: A Mullen| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 71

100/1

Dual winner on turf but well beaten over hurdles in recent starts and plenty to prove on his first outing on the Flat in over a year.

Form: 503000/

(2)

Mr Sundowner^t⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: W Storey| OR: 73| D

33/1

Five time winner on turf but yet to win in 14 career starts on the AW. Returning from a break having finished 7L third at Catterick (1m4f, soft) last time out.

Form: 312163-

(6)

Zabeel Star²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: T Eaves| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 75| D

9/4

Good effort in finishing fourth over C&D on his penultimate outing and again ran well when stepping up to an extended 1m4f here subsequently. .One for the shortlist in this contest.

Form: 717642-

(5)

Champagne Pink^h¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: C Lee⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 74

11/4

In the form of her life in recent outings and completed a Wolverhampton treble when winning over an extended 1m1f last time out. Likely to prove hard to beat stepping up in trip today.

Form: 258111-

(1)

Shamrokh^t²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P J McDonald| T: M Appleby| OR: 72| C

4/1

Finished a good fourth at Chelmsford over 1m in November but well beaten at Southwell subsequently. Interesting runner but best form has come over shorter distances.

Form: 606249-

(8)

Vigee Le Brun^p¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: S H James| T: Olly Williams| OR: 70

33/1

Eight race maiden and ran well when finishing runner-up over this trip at Nottingham (1m2f, good) on her final start for Brian Meehan. Likely to have improved for her first outing for this yard when fifth of six at Southwell last time.

Form: 0/35725-

Forecasts

Zabeel Star (9/4), Desert Ruler (5/2), Champagne Pink (11/4), Shamrokh (4/1), Mr Sundowner (33/1), Vigee Le Brun (33/1), Brotherly Company (66/1), Freewheel (100/1)

CHAMPAGNE PINK can register her fourth victory in succession by taking this competitive looking 1m2f Classified contest. The selection's trainer Karl Burke has been in the winners in recent weeks (/317) and with the slight step up in trip likely to suit she can get the better of Desert Ruler who returns to the AW having finished well beaten over hurdles last time. Zabeel Star ran well here on his latest outing and he can claim third today.