16:05 Newcastle

Tuesday 30 January 2018

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

Play Slots At 188Bet Casino Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:07 | Winning time: 4m 23.87s

Modulus^v³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Ryan Winks⁽⁵⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 110| CD

11/2

Rattled off four wins in quick succession in soft/heavy ground at 2m½f-2m4f in February/March (including over C&D). Hasn't beaten a single rival home in pair of Wetherby handicaps since coming back in and plenty to prove as such.

Form: 6111-80

Heartasia^h,t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 105| BF| D

4/1

Won her last two starts in bumpers during the spring (2m good), and has been placed on both starts over hurdles so far. Yet to really face the demands of a galloping track and testing ground, so that's a concern. Handicap debut.

Form: 541-133

Suprise Vendor¹⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 102| D

22/1

Prolific winner over the years (Flat, hurdles and chasing), but offered little in both starts this term. However, is falling back down the weights, and now 1lb lower than when winning by 2¼L at Ayr in March (2m heavy).

Form: 517-43P

Bingo D'Olivate^h¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: D R Fox| T: Gemma Anderson| OR: 97| D

9/1

Won a soft ground Newbury handicap hurdle (2m½f) for previous trainer Noel Williams in March 2016 but had largely struggled since until a pair of improved placed efforts at Hexham (2m & 2m4f) in November. No show latest (too keen).

Form: 6P7330

Lord County^p⁴^{(ex 7)}

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Ross Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 100

5/6

A winner on his handicap debut in first time cheek-pieces at Doncaster on Friday (2m½f soft), beating longstanding maiden Peppay Le Pugh. Runs quickly under a 7lb penalty (promising claimer booked) at a fairly similar track.

Form: F-55631

Bill D'Aron^h⁶³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: C O'Farrell| T: J Ewart| OR: 94

11/1

Half-brother to 2m-2m3f hurdle winner Verni, this Dom Alco gelding has been absent since finishing in the frame at Carlisle in May 2016 (2m3f+ good). Likely to need this race, and better with time in handicap company.

Form: 7P/3-

Rapid Fritz^t⁷³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 89

33/1

Half-brother to point-to-point winner Athronan, but no real signs that he's likely to be troubling the judge anytime soon. Hit the deck in a Wetherby novices chase (1m7f) in November, and returns to hurdling as a 21 race maiden.

Form: 0P586F

Instingtive³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 81

25/1

A winner over fences off an 18lb higher mark at Plumpton in January 2017 (2m1f heavy) for Gary Moore, but moderate thereafter and sold for just £2,500 in May 2017. Scarcely managed to beat a rival in his last three hurdles starts.

Form: 58U000

Forecasts

Lord County (5/6), Heartasia (4/1), Modulus (11/2), Bingo D'Olivate (9/1), Bill D'Aron (11/1), Suprise Vendor (22/1), Instingtive (25/1), Rapid Fritz (33/1)

Heartasia is unexposed in handicaps, and represents a stable who very much know the time of day, but this mare is yet to tackle the combination of deep ground and a galloping track, and you'd rather wait and see if she can handle such conditions as opposed to just taking the chance. Therefore, with Bill D'Aron likely to need this race, and both Modulus and Suprise Vendor seemingly far from their best at present, all signposts appear to point towards Friday's penalised Doncaster winner LORD COUNTY. Ross Turner claims 7lb, which effectively negates the penalty, and this would appear to be an excellent piece of placing by the ever astute Oliver Greenall.