15:10 Newcastle

Thursday 8 February 2018

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

Betway Apprentice Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 2m 11.91s

(6)

Polar Forest^e/s¹⁰⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: Jack Osborn| T: R C Guest| OR: 62| CD

5/1

Ten time winner who is effectively well treated based upon his C&D success back in November 2016 (now 8lb lower). However, he is returning from a break, so will need to be fully tuned up in order to profit.

Form: 359978-

(3)

Weather Front^p³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Sebastian Woods| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 55

4/1

A winner over 1m at Redcar in June 2017, his AW career profile isn't the strongest (0 from 10). However, he's plummeted in the weights to a career low mark, and could profit at some point; but needs to stay this longer trip.

Form: 70/6700-

(2)

Ghostly Arc^t1¹⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Jamie Gormley| T: N Wilson| OR: 54

6/1

Won just once in 22 career starts (over 1m1f). However, he tries this trip on just his third AW start having raced mainly over further. Back from a break wearing a first time tongue tie.

Form: 529/599-

(1)

Tred Softly^b²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Paddy Bradley| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 51

5/1

Hasn't won a race for over 13 months (1m4f at Wolverhampton), but he's fairly consistent on the whole. Should be competitive off his current mark and has no real issues with track or trip.

Form: 42908-6

(9)

Etaad^b³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Harrison Shaw| T: L Egerton| OR: 50| D

14/1

His record of 5 from 26 on the AW is decent, but he's not won a race since leaving the care of Gary Moore. Down the weights, but with plenty to prove at present.

Form: 00558-7

(5)

Highwayman^h¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Jonathan Fisher⁽³⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 49

5/1

A 17 race maiden, but he ran well for this rider in the first time hood at Chelmsford latest (1m2f Class 7). Not that convincing overall, but races from the same handicap mark (49) as he seeks to put together solid back-to-back efforts.

Form: 5808-62

(4)

Musico³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Russell Harris⁽⁵⁾| T: P Holmes| OR: 48

25/1

Shown nothing in three starts in maidens, and was well beaten on his handicap debut here last month (1m). Makes little obvious appeal as he heads beyond 1m for the very first time in his career.

Form: 67/0-8

(7)

Optima Petamus^p⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Paula Muir| T: P Holmes| OR: 47

9/2

Won just once in 26 career starts (1m in October 2015). Falling in the weights, and could be considered on the pick of his better efforts; beaten 1¾L by Polar Forest off a 21lb higher mark over C&D in November 2016.

Form: 0056-39

Non-Runners

(8)

Galilee Chapel²⁸

Weight: 9-7| Age: 9

T: A C Whillans J: Connor Murtagh

Forecasts

Weather Front (4/1), Optima Petamus (9/2), Tred Softly (5/1), Highwayman (5/1), Polar Forest (5/1), Ghostly Arc (6/1), Galilee Chapel (10/1), Etaad (14/1), Musico (25/1)

Let there be no real uncertainty that this isn't a particularly strong or appealing race, However, we've got to know a number of these horses fairly well since the introduction of AW racing at Newcastle, and you could form an argument for a few of the runners on the pick of their 'best' efforts. Highwayman ran well in the first time hood latest (retained), but he'd be far from certain to post another solid effort, unlike the largely consistent but infrequent winner Tred Softly, who should be thereabouts. However, we'll aim a speculative dart towards GALILEE CHAPEL. His handicap mark is falling following some modest efforts over longer trips, but he was a C&D winner off 7lb higher in December 2016, and his young rider Connor Murtagh has plenty of race riding experience on his CV at this particular track.