15:55 Newcastle

Saturday 24 February 2018

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Betfred Like Us On Facebook Handicap Hurdle

  • 4YO plus  |   Class 2  |   2m 98y  |   Soft (Heavy in places)  |   6 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 15:56  |   Winning time: 4m 13.82s
The word Sky in blue and Bet in white with a red background.
The word Betfair in black.
The words Paddy Power in green.
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
1
Horse silk
Mirsaale41
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-12| J: Callum Bewley(3)| T: K Dalgleish| OR:  139| D
10/1
Contested the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle on his last visit to Newcastle in December (fifth), and narrowly turned the tables on his old foe Katgary when scoring by a neck at Kelso latest (2m soft). Up 4lb.
3
Horse silk
Sakhee's Cityp5
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-5| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR:  132| D
8/1
Not won away from Catterick in a 20 race career, and was disappointing off this career high mark at Carlisle latest (2m3f+ heavy). That said; the form of his penultimate start was franked by Beeno earlier this week, and a drop in trip might help.
4
Horse silk
Smart Talk28
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-3| J: C R King| T: B Ellison| OR:  130| D
14/1
Proved herself to be a very smart mare during the 2015/16 campaign, winning Listed (2m3f heavy) and Grade 2 (2m+ good) hurdles at Haydock and Doncaster respectively. Back from 22 months off latest, and this looks more realistic.
5
Horse silk
Joke Dancer35
Age: 5|  Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR:  125| D
7/2
Very lightly raced after just six starts, but is improving quickly. Hung on grimly to repel subsequent Catterick scorer Reverant Cust at Haydock last month (2m heavy), so will relish conditions, but needs more off a 10lb higher mark.
6
Horse silk
Reverant Custt12
Age: 7|  Weight: 10-7| J: Finian O'Toole(3)| T: P Atkinson| OR:  120| CD
5/2
At his best in the presenting conditions, and was a C&D winner in March 2017. Closely matched with Joke Dancer on Haydock form, but busier since, and a winner off a 5lb lower mark at Catterick latest (2m soft).
7
Horse silk
Cool Mix30
Age: 6|  Weight: 10-5| J: R Johnson| T: I Jardine| OR:  118| D
15/8
Deservedly broke the maiden tag with a short odds success at Kelso last month (2m heavy), and side-stepped a potential option back there last Thursday. Goes handicapping now with the Champion booked to ride, but might ideally require better ground.

Non-Runners

2
Horse silk
Master Of Irony84
Weight: 11-6|  Age: 6
T: J & S Quinn  J: W T Kennedy
NR

Forecasts

Cool Mix (15/8), Reverant Cust (5/2), Master Of Irony (3/1), Joke Dancer (7/2), Sakhee's City (8/1), Mirsaale (10/1), Smart Talk (14/1)

Verdict

A competitive 2m handicap hurdle, with no fewer than four of the runners coming into the race as last time out winners. Of that quartet, Mirsaale (weight) and Cool Mix (grade/ground) are most vulnerable. Sakhee's City disappointed at Carlisle last week, whilst the classy mare Smart Talk may require more time, so the trio to concentrate upon are MASTER OF IRONY, Joke Dancer and Reverant Cust. With the latter named duo closely matched and gradually sneaking up the weights, the selection falls on the John Quinn trained runner. He holds some lofty entries in the weeks ahead, but should be fresh following a light campaign, and he ran an absolute blinder to get within just over 2L of High Bridge in the Listed Gerry Feilden Hurdle at Newbury in early December.
  1. Master Of Irony
  2. Reverant Cust
  3. Joke Dancer

Prize Money

1st: £9,495.002nd: £2,805.003rd: £1,402.004th: £702.005th: £351.00

MOST READ RACING

Follow & Track
Image of a horse race faded in a gold gradientYour favourite horses, jockeys and trainers with My Stable
Log in
Discover Sporting Life Plus benefitsWhite Chevron
Sporting Life Plus Logo

RACING TIPS

Next Off