18:45 Newcastle

Thursday 8 March 2018

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

32Red Casino Handicap

Off time: 18:46 | Winning time: 1m 14.18s

(2)

Montague⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Shane Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 77| BF| D

11/4

Unlucky to bump into improvers on his last two starts. Drops in grade and has every chance of giving his powerful yard their first winner of the year.

Form: 3-55122

(6)

Kodi Beach²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: T D Barron| OR: 75

6/1

Son of the yard's speedy filly Annie Beach and beat a modest lot in a Southwell maiden. Opening mark looked beyond him when forced to make the running. Handicapper has now dropped him a couple of pounds and there is going to be more cover this time.

Form: 06-13

(7)

Vj Day⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 72

6/4

Dam was a Grade 1 winner on dirt so no surprise to see him produce a career best on this surface last week. Has attracted support ahead of each run and he looks interesting on handicap debut.

Form: 563-2

(4)

Branscombe¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 72

16/1

Has not really shone on either start on this surface, but too early to say he cannot handle it. Mark has slipped to an attractive level judged on his Sandown victory and the yard appear ready to strike form.

Form: 51276-5

(8)

Leeshaan¹⁶⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: P Makin| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 71

16/1

Beat a useful horse at Haydock last summer but that form appears to flatter him judged on subsequent starts. Debuts for a new yard and probably best watched for now.

Form: 341676-

(3)

Laith Alareen²²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Jane Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: I Furtado| OR: 64

25/1

Failed to show much for David O'Meara and has been gelded during the winter. Debuts for a yard that have been going well and only a market move would make him interesting.

Form: 0598-

(1)

Gorse^p²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: J Fanning| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 62

11/1

Produced a career best in this grade three weeks ago but his record does not guarantee a repeat performance. This looks a stronger race and he has something to prove off a higher mark.

Form: 54306-2

(5)

Daze Out^p1¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 59

14/1

Improved effort on handicap debut two weeks ago when she still looked green. Cheekpieces tried and she is up in grade.

Form: 8543

Forecasts

Vj Day (6/4), Montague (11/4), Kodi Beach (6/1), Gorse (11/1), Daze Out (14/1), Leeshaan (16/1), Branscombe (16/1), Laith Alareen (25/1)

A case can be made for most of these and a chance is taken with BRANSCOMBE. Mark Johnston is often worth following at this time of year and there have been signs his horses are running into form. The son of Invincible Spirit scored at Sandown last year and faced some hard tasks subsequently. He will be better for his latest start which followed an absence and a big drop in the weights makes him attractive. Montague has been in good form but it is possible he may find one too good again. VJ Day makes his handicap debut having been supported ahead of each start. His opening mark looks fair and he could give the selection most to do.