18:40 Newcastle

Tuesday 20 March 2018

All17:3518:0518:4019:1519:4520:1520:45

32Red Casino Handicap

Off time: 18:40 | Winning time: 1m 12.54s

(7)

Bengali Boys¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Sebastian Woods⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 101

5/1

Back from a break for his AW debut at Lingfield recently (7f) when finishing a weakening fifth of six to the ultimately decisive winner Headway. Takes a drop in class and trip tonight, both of which are seemingly required.

Form: 12214-5

(2)

Rebel Assault¹⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 98| D

8/1

Winner of the Listed Rockingham Stakes at York (6f good) on her penultimate start as a juvenile in October. Back from a break for her AW debut, but no doubting she has the class to make her mark if fully tuned up.

Form: 185614-

(3)

Ghost Serge^p1²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A Watson| OR: 89| BF| D

11/2

Showed pleasing early season form as a juvenile and was beaten just a head in a 7f Listed contest at Saint-Cloud in mid-July. Form tailed off towards the end of the season and not at his best on the AW yet, so cheek-pieces are applied.

Form: 1256-48

(1)

Prestbury Park¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 88| D

10/3

A two time 6f winner on turf as a juvenile (Haydock and Chester), so clearly versatile in terms of track. Didn't quite get home (led) on his reappearance at Lingfield just over a fortnight ago when beaten 1½L by Desert Doctor.

Form: 11344-2

(5)

Myboyhenry¹⁷³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: B A Curtis| T: K R Burke| OR: 84

15/2

Not run over this trip since his debut at Ayr in May 2017. Twice a winner over 7f at Musselburgh thereafter, he returns from a winter break for his AW debut having been gelded.

Form: 511728-

(4)

Lord Of The Glen^b1¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 80| C

18/1

A Newcastle regular this winter, so requires no introduction. Raced only over the minimum 5f trip in 2018, and no match for the improving Grandfather Tom here recently. First time blinkers applied to help combat a rising handicap mark.

Form: 2-12172

(6)

Vj Day¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: A Mullen| T: K A Ryan| OR: 78| CD

5/2

Well supported when making a winning handicap debut over C&D earlier this month, beating Montague by a comfortable 1¼L. 6lb higher in a stronger race, but most certainly on the up with his previous Wolverhampton form also solid. Unexposed.

Form: 563-21

Forecasts

Vj Day (5/2), Prestbury Park (10/3), Bengali Boys (5/1), Ghost Serge (11/2), Myboyhenry (15/2), Rebel Assault (8/1), Lord Of The Glen (18/1)

A decent contest in which some winter mothballed juveniles are slowly returning to recommence their racing careers as three-year-old's. The likes of Bengali Boys and Prestbury Park should be sharper for recent AW spins, whilst 2017 Rockingham Stakes winner Rebel Assault has the required ability for success on her AW debut if fully tuned up. However, we'll side with the Kevin Ryan trained VJ DAY. He's improved since switched to synthetics, and was backed throughout the day prior to making a winning handicap debut over C&D earlier in the month. He rates as unexposed after just five career starts, and a 6lb rise shouldn't be enough to stop him following up; admittedly in a stronger contest.