15:05 Newcastle

Tuesday 30 January 2018

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:3516:05

Six Nations Rugby At 188Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 6m 28.15s

Skipthescales^b1²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 109| D

11/4

Still to demonstrate that he truly handles winter NH ground, but he was a winner at Wetherby in November (3m good to soft), and he races off just 4lb higher here. Blinkers added as further improvement is sought.

Form: 3-63143

Tailor Tom^p1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 108

4/1

Progressive novice who stayed on strongly to score by a neck on handicap debut at Bangor on his penultimate start (2m7f+ heavy). Lost little in defeat under a penalty to a progressive rival latest (3m1f+) but another 3lb higher wearing cheek-pieces.

Form: 3-80412

Chicoria²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Reed⁽⁷⁾| T: T Davidson| OR: 107

10/1

Left Henry Daly cheaply (£6,500) in May 2016, and hasn't seen masses of racing since. Back with a solid effort at Ayr in November (3m heavy) when beaten 4L by Too Many Chiefs, but hasn't progressed thereafter.

Form: 537-275

Moorlands Mist³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: Sara Ender| OR: 106| D

28/1

An honest runner up in a brutal 4m slog at Hexham in November (chase), and that race has most likely left it's mark. Hasn't won any race since 2013 (when with Phillip Hobbs), but worth a go back over hurdles.

Form: 3U352P

American Life^t,v²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Ross Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 102| BF| D

7/2

Stays 3m on heavy ground, though without a win since a purple patch in the 2014/15 season. Got to within about 1½L of Tailor Tom at Bangor latest (third), and plenty better off at the weights now, so a reversal is a distinct possibility.

Form: 2P2-223

Tickanrun³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 94

5/2

13 race maiden, but back from a lengthy absence (ex Chris Grant), when posting a rock solid 1¾L second to subsequent winner Final Fling at Wetherby in December (3m soft). Up 5lb, but every chance on his second start for new stable.

Form: 7262/2-2

Millrose Bell⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 91

40/1

Has raced on just three occasions under rules, but is yet to show too much in the way of any worthwhile form. However, in fairness, handicaps are much more likely to be her scene than novice hurdles.

Form: 3-376

Lastin' Memories^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Jamie Hamilton⁽³⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 89

22/1

Six race maiden who showed little in the way of improvement for the application of cheek-pieces at Ayr latest (retained), and tough to envisage that he'll be involved despite a further drop of 5lb in the weights.

Form: 539-978

Forecasts

Tickanrun (5/2), Skipthescales (11/4), American Life (7/2), Tailor Tom (4/1), Chicoria (10/1), Lastin' Memories (22/1), Moorlands Mist (28/1), Millrose Bell (40/1)

TICKANRUN has always promised to win races at some point, but was let go by Chris Grant and David Armstrong for £12,000 in May 2016, and moved to the care of Micky Hammond. However, we didn't hear any more of him until he posted a rock-solid comeback effort at Wetherby in late December, but he's massively respected despite a 5lb rise with his conqueror Final Fling going in again since. Hopefully, he doesn't 'bounce' and fully delivers at the business end of the race, but if he doesn't Tailor Tom looks to be the improving novice who is more than capable of picking up the pieces. American Life should have his measure at the revised weights based upon their Bangor clash in early January, but aged 11, he's far more exposed than the McCain trained six-year-old, who went down fighting subsequently under a penalty behind previous Newcastle scorer Chu Chu Percy at Catterick.