19:15 Newcastle

Tuesday 20 March 2018

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

Betway Claiming Stakes

Off time: 19:19 | Winning time: 1m 12.51s

(2)

Exchequer^p1⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: R C Guest| OR: 82| BF

4/1

A beaten favourite in this grade at Lingfield (7f) last week on his first start for this trainer (ex David O'Meara). Cheek-pieces applied for the switch to Tapeta but rated 3lb inferior to Mujassam on official figures.

Form: 3-32044

(4)

Mujassam^b⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 85| D

6/4

Top-rated on official figures (85), but drops into a claimer after a couple of lesser efforts in handicaps. His best trip is seemingly between 6f-7f, but he filled the frame over 1m; albeit beaten 8L+ by Testa Rossa here in January.

Form: 6-63205

(7)

Ballynarry Lady

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby

100/1

Unraced sixth foal by Desert Millennium out of an unraced dam. Sister to 5f winners Irish Girls Spirit and Irish Boy, but the thinking is that she can't be all that strong to be starting off her racing career in a claimer.

Form:

(5)

Major Crispies^b¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: S H James| T: D O'Meara| OR: 69| CD

4/1

Fairly solid in his last four C&D starts (2,1,4,4), but generally difficult to win with hence the return to this grade of contest. Something to find with a couple of these at the weights, but strong possibilities for a place.

Form: 4-97462

(3)

Sterling Silva^p²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Fran Berry| T: B Haslam| OR: 70| D

11/1

Formerly with Richard Hannon, but lacked the required speed in order to get involved on stable debut at Wolverhampton last month (6f seller). Not won since June 2016, 0 from 3 on the AW, and tough to enthuse about.

Form: 43674-5

(1)

Mishaal³²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Herrington| OR: 68| D

15/2

Reasonably solid 70-rated handicapper earlier on in the AW campaign, with C&D form in September closely aligned with Major Crispies. However, not so sharp in either of his latest outings, including on his 2018 reappearance here last month.

Form: 22440-7

(6)

Ballymore Castle^b²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: A Mullen| T: R A Fahey| OR: 67| D

7/1

Won just twice in 39 starts, with his first success since his juvenile days gained in a fairly dire three-runner seller at Wolverhampton in December (6f). A major surprise if he's the solution on these terms.

Form: 451-048

Forecasts

Mujassam (6/4), Exchequer (4/1), Major Crispies (4/1), Ballymore Castle (7/1), Mishaal (15/2), Sterling Silva (11/1), Ballynarry Lady (100/1)

A poor race which makes very limited appeal for punting purposes. Major Crispies is perhaps the most reliable performer in the line up, and he's fine over this C&D, but on handicap ratings he shouldn't theoretically be good enough for either the first time cheek-pieced Exchequer or his stablemate MUJASSAM. Top-rated (85), the Daniel Tudhope ridden charge gets the verdict in the hope that dropping into a claimer against some largely under-performing rivals will provide him with a much needed confidence boost.