14:25 Newcastle

Thursday 11 January 2018

All13:5514:2515:0015:3516:0516:3517:05

Betway Amateur Riders' Handicap

Off time: 14:28 | Winning time: 2m 45.27s

(4)

Henpecked^p³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr James King| T: A C Whillans| OR: 67

13/2

Frustrating mare who appears to have lost the knack of winning races, but she is dropped in grade significantly today (into a Class 6). No issues with this C&D, and now 3lb lower than when beaten ¾L by Sileel in September.

Form: 422008-

(5)

Jersey Jewel²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss C A Greenway⁽⁵⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 64| D

12/1

A rare runner for the stable at this track (on the Flat), but she didn't take to hurdling and was well beaten over a shorter trip at Wolverhampton last month. This is more to her liking (1m4f), but still unproven on the AW.

Form: 24/4979-

(9)

Something Brewing^p1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 63

7/2

Untested on the AW, and hasn't shown much on the Flat since his days in France in the summer of 2016. Won a weak Hexham juvenile hurdle in September, but hasn't gone forward since, so tries something new in first time cheek-pieces.

Form: 650078

(6)

Esspeegee^p²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Jessica Cooley⁽³⁾| T: A Bailey| OR: 57| CD

6/5

Backed up a late season Brighton double (1m4f) when keeping on well to down Magistral by a head over C&D last month. Up 3lb, and that looks fair, so should be thereabouts if he can maintain his steady progression.

Form: 283111-

(7)

Leonard Thomas^p⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 53| BF| C

8/1

Course winner (1m) who was well backed on his second start for this stable here last week, but failed to deliver the goods when only seventh of nine to Symbolic Star (1m). Back up in trip and looks held by Esspeegee.

Form: 75660-7

(1)

Mangata^b,t1¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 55

25/1

Shown absolutely nothing in four starts for this stable since a switch from France, including on Fibresand at Southwell recently (1m3f). Eased 5lb, but no reason to expect he can make it 12th time lucky despite the application of a tongue tie.

Form: 750849-

(2)

Highwayman^b³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Ms S Brotherton| T: D Thompson| OR: 51

12/1

Now a 15 race maiden, and still hasn't threatened to capitalise on a sliding mark. Hard to establish his ideal trip, and quite honestly, it's probably simply a case that he's devoid of ability. Interesting jockey booking.

Form: 6/55808-

(3)

Flying Power^p³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Norton| OR: 45| D

16/1

Veteran who hasn't managed a victory since August 2014 (1m3f+), and barring a placed effort at Wolverhampton in August, hasn't implied that's likely to change. Tough task from out of the weights.

Form: 583850-

Non-Runners

(8)

Best Example⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: Miss J Feilden J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Esspeegee (6/5), Best Example (3/1), Something Brewing (7/2), Henpecked (13/2), Leonard Thomas (8/1), Jersey Jewel (12/1), Highwayman (12/1), Flying Power (16/1), Mangata (25/1)

Question marks against the vast majority of these runners, and a number of them simply can't win. Esspeegee is on a winning streak, and should be thereabouts off a 3lb higher mark than for his recent C&D success, but he's likely to be well found in the market, so there promises to be just a whiff of value to be found elsewhere. Best Example will appreciate dropping back to 1m4f, but small stakes are played on the mare HENPECKED. She is consistent enough (without being a regular winner), and will benefit from dropping from Class 4 handicaps into Class 6 company. Her current mark is fair, and she has some reasonable placed form at this track (1m2f and 1m4f) on her CV.