14:05 Newcastle

Thursday 8 February 2018

All14:0514:4015:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Betway Live Casino Handicap

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 3m 34.9s

(9)

Empresario^b,t³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Paddy Bradley⁽⁵⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 54| D

6/1

Irish runner who races for the second time this week following a mid-division finish at Wolverhampton on Monday (2m). Still without a win over this trip on the Flat.

Form: 97/90-77

(13)

Buthelezi¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-4| J: S Donohoe| T: B Ellison| OR: 52| BF

8/1

A maiden after 10 starts on synthetics, but his previous Flat turf form and hurdling exploits illustrate that he has a fair level of ability. No joy at Southwell latest (1m4f), but likely much better suited by this trip.

Form: 0068-55

(3)

Navajo Star⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J Fanning| T: R Brisland| OR: 55| CD

2/1

The handicapper slowed her progress following her quickfire 2m Chelmsford and Newcastle victories during October, and she has left Mick Appleby since her latest start in December. 4lb above her last (C&D) winning mark.

Form: 411440-

(11)

Captain Sharpe^b¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Hart| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 50| D

66/1

Quirky sort who has been out of form over hurdles and fences, and makes an unexpected return to the Flat for the first time since April 2015.

Form: 543669/

(12)

Carta Blanca^h⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: A Mullen| T: Gemma Anderson| OR: 47

66/1

Modest on the Flat in Ireland for John Joseph Murphy. Pulled up over hurdles at Musselburgh in November on her first start for this stable, she switches to the AW (less exposed) but with a point or two to prove. Half-sister to 2m AW winner Megara.

Form: 825590

(7)

Hugoigo³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 51

25/1

Lightly raced, and was upped in trip on his handicap debut (over C&D) in early January. However, that effort wasn't overly encouraging, and the handicapper has dropped him 4lb accordingly.

Form: 555-0

(10)

Traditional Dancer^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: K Shoemark| T: I Jardine| OR: 47

11/4

His hurdles mark of 122 illustrates that he's light years ahead of his Flat form when obstacles are introduced. That said; he should profit from his lowly Flat mark eventually, and wasn't disgraced when fifth to Apalis over C&D in December.

Form: 263595-

(5)

Pantomime⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 45

11/1

An 11 race career maiden, so it's more than fair to say that we're still waiting for her to put on a show. However, she's falling in the weights, and is now 6lb lower than when finishing fifth of 12 to Apalis over C&D last month.

Form: 0/56-557

(1)

Topalova^b¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Joey Haynes| T: M H Tompkins| OR: 45

16/1

Mare who has bits and pieces of placed form over 2m at Chelmsford, but she arrives seemingly out of form, and as a 19 race career maiden (0 from 15 AW) is almost impossible to speak about confidently.

Form: 5370-57

(4)

La Bacouetteuse^p³⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 8-12| J: B A Curtis| T: I Jardine| OR: 45| D

33/1

Veteran who has won plenty of races on turf over the years (11 from 74), but he's yet to deliver the goods on synthetics, and at the age of 13, it must be considered highly unlikely that he ever will.

Form: 72070-0

(6)

Kazoey⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: D Fentiman| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 45

100/1

Made all and held on gamely when springing a 25/1 surprise at Redcar in August 2016 (1m6f good to soft), but fairly dismal in four AW starts since, and on that basis couldn't be considered.

Form: 510/700-

(8)

Fillydelphia⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: P Holmes| OR: 45

40/1

Posted a fair effort in a Catterick selling handicap hurdle latest (fourth to Shalamzar), but hasn't shown much on the Flat for some considerable time, and a falling handicap mark isn't anywhere near enough to tempt.

Form: 368908-

(14)

Archibelle²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: J P Sullivan| T: R M Smith| OR: 49

14/1

Finished just under 5L third to Love Conquers in a 1m4f maiden here in November, but has offered little in handicap company over C&D since. Now a 14 race maiden, and a falling mark not enough of a reason to expect more.

Form: 8837-68

(2)

Ease The Jets²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: Madeleine Tylicki| OR: 45

25/1

Not shown much so far, but is far less exposed than some, and she will be this County Kildare based trainers first ever AW runner at Newcastle. Interesting to see how she handles the step up in trip to 2m.

Form: 000/0-89

Forecasts

Navajo Star (2/1), Traditional Dancer (11/4), Empresario (6/1), Buthelezi (8/1), Pantomime (11/1), Archibelle (14/1), Topalova (16/1), Hugoigo (25/1), Ease The Jets (25/1), La Bacouetteuse (33/1), Fillydelphia (40/1), Carta Blanca (66/1), Captain Sharpe (66/1), Kazoey (100/1)

Not an ideal way to start any card, with a low grade handicap for the stayers offered up. However, we seek a winner, and that could come in the shape of the Iain Jardine trained TRADITIONAL DANCER. He is a useful hurdler in his pomp and has been kicking about in competitive handicaps at Musselburgh of late (without success). Whilst still a maiden on the Flat after nine starts, he's less exposed on the AW and seems to handle this C&D without any real concerns. His current Flat mark of 47 is workable, and with Kieran Shoemark booked to do the steering, he rates as the play in a very winnable contest. Of the remainder Navajo Star (1 from 1 at the track) could run well on her first start for Robyn Brisland, whilst Ease The Jets is an intriguing sort for Irish handler Madeleine Tylicki.