16:35 Newcastle
Thursday 11 January 2018
All13:5514:2515:0015:3516:0516:3517:05
Betway Sprint Handicap
- 4YO plus  |  Class 3  |  5f  |  Standard  |  7 Runners  |  Allweather  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 16:36Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 59.34s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Enjoyed his biggest AW success at Kempton in April (6f) when repelling the renewed thrust of Solar Flair by a nose, but hasn't won since despite running with credit. This trip looks on the sharp side unless the visor helps to add some early 'oomph'.
Won back to back races on turf in late summer (5f), but has risen steadily in the weights as a result. Beaten just over 1L when third to Udontdodou at Chelmsford last week, and this race represents a slight drop in grade.
Nearest at the finish on his penultimate start over C&D in late November when 3½L fourth to the fast improving Atletico. Produced a similar effort on Fibresand on New Years Day, and his current mark is possibly just a shade too high.
Has been with a few stables, and didn't really kick on after winning a C&D Fast Track Qualifier for Michael Herrington in January (previously a shock 6f claiming winner for Adam West). Better treated now but remains out of form.
A prolific synthetics winner over the years, and scored over C&D off this mark in December 2016 when produced by Noel Garbutt to lead the last stride. Disappointing at Chelmsford last week and hard to support with any confidence at present.
A beaten favourite off this mark at Southwell on New Years Day (5f), but he produced a solid effort nevertheless to finish a close up third to Midnight Malibu. Stays further (6f), so this stiff track looks an ideal match.
No match for Oriental Lilly despite hitting the front inside the final furlong over C&D last week. Doesn't win all that often, and this race is two grades higher, so the suspicion is that this locally owned filly will be found wanting.
Forecasts
Aleef (3/1), Memories Galore (4/1), Hakam (4/1), Compas Scoobie (9/2), Twizzell (11/2), Doc Sportello (8/1), Dynamo Walt (20/1)
A difficult to solve sprint handicap, with a couple of these runners being previous C&D winners (Doc Sportello and Dynamo Walt). However, a couple of the other runners are in better shape than that duo at present. Compas Scoobie is possibly a fraction high in the weights, but he performed with credit off this mark in a stronger contest at Chelmsford last week, so makes the shortlist, as does Hakam, who might just about get away with a drop to 5f assuming that the first time visor 'revs him up' early doors. However, the David O'Meara trained ALEEF looks the horse to be with despite being a beaten favourite at Southwell on New Years Day. His recent efforts are consistent ones, and very strong stamina wise (a three time career 6f winner), he should find Newcastle's stiff 5f very much to his liking on his first ever visit to Gosforth Park.
- Aleef
- Compas Scoobie
- Hakam
Prize Money
1st: £11,321.002nd: £3,369.003rd: £1,684.004th: £842.00
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