18:15 Newcastle

Wednesday 31 January 2018

All16:0516:4017:1517:4518:1518:45

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 18:16 | Winning time: 1m 0.58s

(2)

Big Lachie¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 70| D

6/1

Hold up performer who went close over this C&D in November. Might have just needed the run last time after a break and this infrequent winner is not discounted in a very open affair.

Form: 79420-8

(7)

Hamish Mcgonagain^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: S A Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 69| D

15/2

Has a length to find with Big Lachie on their Newcastle running in November but has generally run with credit since, although without getting his head in front. Should be thereabouts once again. Yard having a quiet spell though.

Form: 43123-8

(10)

Foxy Boy¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 69| D

16/1

Landed a fine hattrick on turf last summer for previous connections, and shaped with promise on first start for new yard at Wolverhampton recently. Drop back in trip no problem and is worth considering.

Form: 66409-6

(3)

Fast Act^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Cameron Noble⁽⁵⁾| T: K A Ryan| OR: 68| D

17/2

Scored over this trip at Windsor and Chelmsford last term but has been mainly disappointing since. Handicapper has relented though and likes to bowl along so may make a bold bid under good 5lb claimer.

Form: 95275-3

(4)

Entertaining Ben^p¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: J Mitchell| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 67| D

16/1

May still be a little high in the weights having taken a rise after wins at Chelmsford and Lingfield in the autumn. Not disgraced of late for in-form yard, but has it to do on balance.

Form: 91146-7

(8)

Spirit Of Wedza¹⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: P Mulrennan| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 67| D

9/1

Made all over 5f over this trip at Hamilton in May but just three outings since then and nto seen for five months. Has run well fresh though in past so any market interest would be worth noting.

Form: 121546-

(6)

Oriental Lilly²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 66| CD

7/4

No surprise to see her return to the scene of her C&D win four weeks ago having also run well here on first try on A/W in November. Not raised for that success so has solid chance with same jockey claiming 3lb.

Form: 25383-1

(5)

Spirit Of Zebedee^p⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 66| C

14/1

Speedy sort, but all five career wins have come over 6f, including at this track. Returns after three month break and fitness has to be taken on trust. May be better for this outing over possibly inadequate trip.

Form: 021303-

(1)

Run With Pride¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mathers| T: D Shaw| OR: 65

11/1

Went close on only previous try at this minimum trip at Wolverhampton last month. Worth another go at 5f but has to leave behind a couple of modest efforts of late.

Form: 9172-66

(9)

Windforpower^v¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: Barry McHugh| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 61| CD

13/2

Grand servant who appears in great heart at present following two good wins over this C&D. Raised 5lb but hard to know if he is done winning yet given the revival and has to seriously enter calculations.

Form: 77231-1

Forecasts

Oriental Lilly (7/4), Big Lachie (6/1), Windforpower (13/2), Hamish Mcgonagain (15/2), Fast Act (17/2), Spirit Of Wedza (9/1), Run With Pride (11/1), Spirit Of Zebedee (14/1), Foxy Boy (16/1), Entertaining Ben (16/1)

Given his fine form of late, WINDFORPOWER is taken to complete a hattrick and defy a rise in the weights in a well contested little sprint handicap. Oriental Lily looks a danger having taken well to both this track and surface, while front-running Fast Act could make a bold bid and get them all at it from an early stage. Foxy Boy and Spirit of Wedza are other likely sorts.