17:40 Newcastle

Tuesday 27 March 2018

All17:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:10

Betway Stayers' Handicap

Off time: 17:40 | Winning time: 3m 37.18s

(1)

Mambo Dancer¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 77| BF| CD

9/2

Kept busy since the turn of the year and already a three time 2m synthetics winner, including on his last visit to this track in early January. Now 14lb above that winning mark, and that's looked too high latterly.

Form: 131234

(7)

Western Way^v²³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-12| J: G Lee| T: D E Cantillon| OR: 73| D

8/1

Posted no show on the Fibresand at Southwell earlier in the month, but in decent shape on Polytrack at Kempton and Chelmsford prior to that effort (1,1,2). Handicap mark continuing to rise.

Form: 28-1125

(4)

Tor¹⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 76

4/1

A three time winner on turf last summer (1m5f-1m6f), but off the track since having a solitary spin over hurdles at Sedgefield in late October. Yet to win over this trip (takes some getting at Newcastle) and 0 from 6 on the AW.

Form: 121014-

(6)

Volpone Jelois^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Megan Nicholls⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 72| D

3/1

On the premises in Class 5 AW handicaps (1m4f to 2m), prior to landing a jumpers bumper at Kempton earlier this month in a decisive fashion; made all. Rare Nicholls runner at this track, so respected with Flat mark untouched.

Form: 1/3233-3

(2)

Bal De Rio³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 70

6/1

119-rated over hurdles and beaten 9L by Bulkov in that discipline at Sedgefield last month (2m1f). Back on the Flat for the first time since August 2017 and on the AW since October 2016 when trained in France.

Form: 3835/53-

(3)

Saved By The Bell¹³²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 68

10/1

A four time turf winner for David O'Meara, but never since June 2015, and never beyond 1m6f. The win-less efforts continue to stack up and he returns from 4-month break. Trainer saddled a winner at Doncaster on Saturday.

Form: 773447-

(5)

Leodis²³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: A Mullen| T: T P Tate| OR: 55

6/1

Still without a victory in seven starts, but not fully exposed in handicaps and possibly didn't stay the extended 2m2f at Southwell latest. Sole C&D effort in mid January respectable, beaten less than 1L by Apalis.

Form: 95-534

Forecasts

Volpone Jelois (3/1), Tor (4/1), Mambo Dancer (9/2), Bal De Rio (6/1), Leodis (6/1), Western Way (8/1), Saved By The Bell (10/1)

As the light dictates, the Newcastle action kick-offs with a stayers event, and a race in which Paul Nicholls saddles his first ever Flat runner (AW or turf) at Newcastle. VOLPONE JELOIS dictated the pace when striking in a jumpers bumper at Kempton earlier in the month and whilst this rates as a sterner test, we'll take heed of the fact that he's made the long journey North from Ditcheat. Of the remainder, the suspicion is that a few of these horses are high in the weights so the lightly weighted, still fairly unexposed Leodis could prove to be the value elsewhere.