18:40 Newcastle

Tuesday 27 March 2018

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

Betway Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 18:40 | Winning time: 2m 13.09s

(11)

Metronomic¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Jonathan Fisher⁽⁵⁾| T: P D Niven| OR: 63| D

9/1

A four time career winner, but generally stronger on turf than the AW. His 'winning' mark is around 60, so his riders 5lb claim should in theory make him competitive, but never previously all that sharp at Newcastle.

Form: 0001-96

(1)

My Renaissance¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: Jane Elliott| T: S England| OR: 60| D

20/1

Tapeta, Fibresand, hurdles or fences, he's pretty much won on or over everything since joining this trainer. However, he's yet to recapture the pick of his AW form from last winter, so lines up needing to bounce back to form.

Form: 15657-7

(3)

Clarabel²²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Ryan Timby⁽⁷⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 60

33/1

Has left John Weymes since her last start at Ayr in August (1m2f). Tailed off on her sole previous AW start for Garry Moss (her debut over 1m here in September 2016), so she really needs to raise her game considerably.

Form: 04/46-

(7)

Raven Banner⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Megan Nicholls| T: I Furtado| OR: 59| D

5/1

Finished ninth of 13 on debut for this trainer at Chelmsford in January (1m2f), and whilst we know from her days with David Loughnane that she has some ability, we've seen precious little of that over the past 18 months.

Form: 664/00-9

(8)

Kiwi Bay⁴⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 9-9| J: Paula Muir⁽³⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 59| C| D

12/1

As old as the hills, but still enjoying life at a lowly level throughout 2017 (sellers and claimers). No stranger to Newcastle success (AW or turf) but generally best over the straight mile.

Form: 16700-9

(9)

Ghostly Arc^t⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: N Wilson| OR: 55| CD

11/4

Broke a losing sequence when fitted with a first time tongue tie over C&D in early February; won by a head from the never nearer Weather Front. Just 1lb higher and less exposed on synthetics than turf.

Form: 29/599-1

(5)

Weather Front^p²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Sebastian Woods⁽³⁾| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 55

3/1

Probably should've won when beaten a head by Ghostly Arc over C&D last month (given plenty to do by this rider). However, his win record tells you that he's not the most straightforward and still not wholly proven beyond 1m.

Form: 6700-20

(2)

Colour Contrast^p¹⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Jamie Gormley| T: I Jardine| OR: 49

9/1

A 14 race maiden on turf, but with bits and pieces of placed form when rated in the high '50s'. Off the track since late September, but the handicapper has cut him some slack and he debuts on the AW from a career low mark.

Form: 573490-

(4)

Musico⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Russell Harris⁽⁷⁾| T: P Holmes| OR: 45

66/1

Looks to be very light on ability and already dropped 12lb since being allocated a handicap mark. Stamina unknown, and a mountain to climb with Ghostly Arc and Weather Front.

Form: 67/0-86

(10)

Captain Peaky^p1¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Ben Robinson| T: P Holmes| OR: 45

12/1

A 16-race maiden who has shown bits and pieces of ability, but nothing more. Tumbling down the weights and races from outside of the handicap in first time cheek-pieces. Couldn't be entertained.

Form: 83-9798

(6)

Zarkavon⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 45

40/1

A 13 race maiden for whom you usually require a searchlight to find. Out-performed her 100/1 odds in a truly bizarre race won by Outlaw Torn over C&D latest, but has next to no chance on these terms.

Form: 787-992

Forecasts

Ghostly Arc (11/4), Weather Front (3/1), Raven Banner (5/1), Metronomic (9/1), Colour Contrast (9/1), Kiwi Bay (12/1), Captain Peaky (12/1), My Renaissance (20/1), Clarabel (33/1), Zarkavon (40/1), Musico (66/1)

Centre card, but head and shoulders the weakest race of the evening. Ghostly Arc edged out WEATHER FRONT when scoring by a head over C&D last month, and given the weight of pre-race support for the Karen McLintock trained runner, it's perhaps a surprise to see Sebastian Woods retain the mount tonight. However, in defence of his pilot, Weather Front fluffed the start and was previously unproven over this trip. That said; the suspicion is that he should've really beaten the Noel Wilson trained rival and he can be fancied to extract his revenge tonight in a very weak contest even by Class 6 standards. Of the remainder, market support could be telling for Colour Contrast.