20:45 Newcastle

Friday 9 March 2018

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Betway Cheltenham First & Last Race Losers Moneyback Handicap

Off time: 20:46 | Winning time: 1m 0.01s

(8)

Spirit Of Zebedee^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 62| C

8/1

On a winnable mark, but his best AW form last winter came over 6f (course winner in February 2017). However, despite a tame effort here over C&D latest, he's worth another go over this trip given his prominent style of racing.

Form: 1303-90

(9)

Windforpower^v²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 60| CD

4/1

Always a force to be reckoned with over the minimum trip at Newcastle, and can pack a potent late punch when others are beginning to cry enough. Beaten a head in this race in 2017, and a C&D winner just 5-days later.

Form: 231-166

(3)

Santafiora²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mulrennan| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 55

10/1

Slipped 7lb in the weights after a couple of modest efforts for this trainer. She cost £8,000 from Roger Charlton in November, so it's early days to be forming solid judgements about her just yet.

Form: 95578-5

(10)

Little Nosegay³⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁷⁾| T: A Berry| OR: 53| D

12/1

A 5f winner for David Evans at Wolverhampton in February 2017, but off the track for almost a year now and returns to action for a new trainer.

Form: 470149-

(5)

Tihana⁴²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: A Berry| OR: 50

25/1

Has run just twice since her juvenile days, and not shown much promise, leading to a fall of 7lb in the weights. Not a likely contender.

Form: 8753/49-

(4)

Fuel Injection²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 50| D

8/1

A 5f winner at Catterick in May 2016 when with Paul Midgely, but hasn't won on the AW for over four years (Southwell). Still early days with this excellent trainer, and almost certainly will have needed last month's Wolverhampton start.

Form: 6/4660-5

(6)

Novabridge^b²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 8-9| J: S H James| T: K Tutty| OR: 48| CD

9/2

Just 2lb higher than when scoring over C&D in January (Class 7), and whilst he's advancing in terms of years, he knows how to get the job done at this particular track.

Form: 47-1847

(11)

Monsieur Mel^h1¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 48

20/1

Not had all that many starts, six in total, but equally hasn't shown any worthwhile form. Goes over the minimum trip for the first time wearing a newly applied hood, and we'll wait and see if that leads to a better effort.

Form: 7780-50

(7)

Fintry Flyer^p⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 46

9/4

An eight race maiden, but she's hit the frame on her last three starts at Newcastle (5f to 6f). 1lb higher than when beaten 1L by Novabridge over C&D in January, and also beaten by the same margin by Windforpower in mid-December (third).

Form: 98033-2

(2)

Reflation¹⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Joey Haynes| T: P Holmes| OR: 45

25/1

16lb lower than when scoring for Micheal Dods at Hamilton in September 2016 (6f heavy), so theoretically you could say he's well handicapped. Handles the AW okay, but hasn't progressed for this stable.

Form: 780369-

(1)

Griffin Street⁸⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: P Hanagan| T: A C Whillans| OR: 45

33/1

Formerly with Iain Jardine, this eight race maiden hasn't raced since November 2015, but was withdrawn here in January (unruly). Stable badly impacted by the snow over the past few weeks, so he's likely to benefit for this run.

Form: 466856/

Forecasts

Fintry Flyer (9/4), Windforpower (4/1), Novabridge (9/2), Fuel Injection (8/1), Spirit Of Zebedee (8/1), Santafiora (10/1), Little Nosegay (12/1), Monsieur Mel (20/1), Tihana (25/1), Reflation (25/1), Griffin Street (33/1)

As is so often the case at Newcastle, a 5f sprint to conclude the action, with predictably a number of course regulars in the line up. Fintry Flyer is less exposed than the majority after just eight previous appearances, with her trainer Jim Goldie in fine form at Newcastle in 2018. She has form tied up with the other fancied runners; the triple C&D scorer Novabridge, and the most likeable ever late on the scene WINDFORPOWER. Whilst the selection sits high enough in the handicap, he's always massively feared at this track, and was in fine form during March 2017, including when beaten a neck by Sea Of Green (off this mark) in this corresponding race.