In Play Betting At 188Bet Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 6m 28.57s

De Vous A Moi¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 129| C

10/3

Mudlark with impressive career statistics at Newcastle (2,1,1). Stayed on strongly when winning a 2m6f heavy ground handicap hurdle here in February, and has done okay at Haydock recently. Heading back over fences from a fairer (falling) mark.

Form: 319-735

Kimberlite Candy¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Alan Johns| T: T Lacey| OR: 128| BF| C

15/8

Looked to have a very bright future when thrashing Acdc by 7L in a 2m6f novices hurdle on his previous visit here in December 2016. However, slow to make his mark over fences, and 5lb higher for an all out Market Rasen success on Boxing Day.

Form: P-5531P

Newtown Lad^b,t⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 123| BF

4/1

A reasonably promising sort as a novice, he likes to get his toe in as he has demonstrated in the past when winning over fences at Uttoxeter and Ayr. Probably needed his Bangor reappearance, but needs to take a step forward now.

Form: 1831F-P

Central Flame³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Miss C Walton⁽³⁾| T: J Walton| OR: 122

13/2

Hasn't really looked the same horse as in the spring of 2015 (over hurdles), but he's a tricky one to evaluate as we know that he has ability. Shown a few glimmers over C&D (fences) lately, and no denying he's well handicapped.

Form: 25/4-PP3

Alto Des Mottes^b1¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton⁽³⁾| T: H Hogarth| OR: 119| CD

7/1

A rather fortuitous winner of this race in 2017 (8L scorer), his subsequent form figures of F,P,5,P,P are rather disconcerting. That said, this is his track, and connections can only hope that the application of blinkers sparks a revival.

Form: 1FP-5PP

Presented²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 99| C

10/1

C&D winner in 2013, but hasn't won anywhere for ages. Faces a tough assignment here from out of the weights on the back of a moderate effort at Ayr in early January (weakened quickly after leading).

Form: 233346

Forecasts

Kimberlite Candy (15/8), De Vous A Moi (10/3), Newtown Lad (4/1), Central Flame (13/2), Alto Des Mottes (7/1), Presented (10/1)

A small field, but with no obvious standout selection on offer, this looks a race which is best bypassed. However, in the interests of sport, KIMBERLITE CANDY is probably the most progressive horse in the line up. His latest Newbury run can be safely ignored (hampered early), but he got his act together over fences when a game winner at Market Rasen on Boxing Day, and he was a winner on his sole previous visit to Newcastle in December 2016 (novice hurdle). Both De Vous A Moi and Alto Des Mottes generally run their respective races at this track, with the top-weight appearing to be the most trustworthy of the pair at present for forecast purposes.