Betway Stayers' Handicap

Off time: 17:36 | Winning time: 3m 39.28s

(4)

Dubawi Fifty^p³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: J Fanning| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 96| CD

5/6

Well suited by Tapeta and has thrived on the AW, notably so since finishing 11L fourth to Withhold in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket in October. 4lb above his last winning mark at Wolverhampton, and guaranteed to run a solid race.

Form: 4/114-11

(6)

Stargazer⁵⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: P J McDonald| T: P A Kirby| OR: 95| BF

16/1

Bought for 8,000 gns in November (ex Michael Stoute). No doubting his potential on AW debut being a half-brother to Stravagante, but stamina for this trip unproven, and although his trainer is in form, this horse will surely benefit for the race.

Form: 432135/

(5)

American Gigolo^h,t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Fran Berry| T: H Fry| OR: 88| D

5/2

Talented hurdler (130-rated), but also a two-time 1m4f synthetics winner at Lingfield and Kempton. Trainer/jockey are infrequent visitors to Newcastle, but this Azamour gelding shouldn't be troubled by stepping up in trip on handicap debut.

Form: 211

(2)

Suegioo^p³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 87

28/1

2014 Chester Cup winner and Northumberland Plate runner up (turf). However, those days are long gone now, and he struggles to force his head to the front (2 from 50 career). Tapeta runner up on penultimate start (2m), but others preferred.

Form: 5327-25

(1)

Swashbuckle^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: A Mullen| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 86| D

25/1

Finished down the field in the Cesarewitch (25th) in October and campaigned mainly over hurdles since. A winner of a jumpers bumper at Southwell earlier in the month (2m), and placed on his only previous Newcastle start over 12 months ago.

Form: 71960-5

(3)

Continuum^v²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 8-12| J: Tom Marquand| T: P Hedger| OR: 82

11/2

Not won since taking the John Smith's Silver Cup at York in July 2014 (1m6f good to firm), but in fairness has only ran 12 times since. Placed in a 2m Kempton Conditions Stakes latest (100/1), and this is much more realistic.

Form: 2/6645-3

Forecasts

Dubawi Fifty (5/6), American Gigolo (5/2), Continuum (11/2), Stargazer (16/1), Swashbuckle (25/1), Suegioo (28/1)

AMERICAN GIGOLO seeks an AW hat-trick following victories at Lingfield and Kempton and provides his trainer Harry Fry with a first ever runner on Tapeta at Newcastle. Whilst he steps up in trip to 2m for the first time, that's not a bother given his strong level of ability over hurdles, and an opening handicap mark of 88 looks relatively fair. Dubawi Fifty is a standing dish at his local track, and improving quickly, he'll not go down without a fight, but the concession of 8lb to an in-form rival might just be asking a little too much.