20:45 Newcastle

Wednesday 28 March 2018

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Betway Sprint Handicap

Off time: 20:46 | Winning time: 1m 0.48s

(8)

Suwaan¹⁶⁹

9/2

Boasts a solid record over C&D (1,2,7) and remains competitively handicapped from his current mark. Worthy of close inspection in the market with the stable saddling the winner of this race in 2017. Has wind surgery worked the oracle?

Form: 231207-

(10)

Gloriux¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: J Balding| OR: 67

11/1

Now an eight race maiden, but shaped okay on stable debut over C&D in mid-February. Dropped 2lb in the weights after a lesser effort at Chelmsford, so needs to make a fraction more progress in order to figure.

Form: 3784-86

(3)

Monte Cinq^h²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Cam Hardie| T: J Ward| OR: 66| D

20/1

Won just once in 23 starts, and that was a 5f Wolverhampton maiden in November 2016. Beaten a neck on his sole start at this track (C&D), but tailed off at Wolverhampton latest, so that's not at all encouraging.

Form: 05-2049

(9)

Pea Shooter^t²¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: D Allan| T: B Ellison| OR: 65| DWS

20/1

Not hit any target since May 2016 (5f+ at Wetherby) and 0 from 9 on the AW. Off since mid August, but no denying that he's very well handicapped if wind surgery has provided the solution to his woes. Market helpful.

Form: 074550-

(7)

Windforpower^v¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: B A Curtis| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 64| CD

7/1

Five-time C&D winner who is fast becoming much admired. Packs a potent late punch when others are beginning to cry enough, so best suited by a strong pace. 4lb higher than for his recent commanding Class 6 success; beat Berlios by 1L.

Form: 1-16621

(1)

Spirit Of Wedza¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: P Mulrennan| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 64| BF| D

15/2

Yet to taste Newcastle success, but hasn't done all that much racing since winning at Hamilton in May (5f good to firm). Set the race up perfectly for Windforpower here latest and likely to do so once more if applying similar tactics.

Form: 546-554

(5)

Presidential¹⁸⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 63

14/1

Didn't show all that much for previous trainer Kevin Prendergast (6f to 1m). Drops back in trip for his first try at 5f having been bought for €5,000 in October 2017.

Form: 45/4669-

(4)

Caesar's Comet¹⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: G Lee| T: P T Midgley| OR: 63

7/4

An maiden in Ireland for Michael Halford, and has clashed with Presidential previously. Not quite found his feet for this trainer just yet, but switched back to the AW for seasonal reappearance from a sliding mark.

Form: 407348-

(6)

Star Cracker^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: P J McDonald| T: J S Goldie| OR: 59| C| D

9/1

Did manage to win over 6f here in December, but this 5f trip suits him best. Has previous with Windforpower, including over C&D latest (third), but that winner was full value for his 1+L advantage.

Form: 681-363

(2)

Fly True^h⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Jason Hart| T: Suzzanne France| OR: 55| D

66/1

Won just once in 16 career starts, for Jeremy Gask at Kempton in November 2016 (5f). Looks moody nowadays and dismal in all three starts for this trainer (cost 13,000 gns in July 2017).

Form: 8860-70

Forecasts

Caesar's Comet (7/4), Suwaan (9/2), Windforpower (7/1), Spirit Of Wedza (15/2), Star Cracker (9/1), Gloriux (11/1), Presidential (14/1), Pea Shooter (20/1), Monte Cinq (20/1), Fly True (66/1)

A low grade 5f Newcastle sprint handicap, so it must be the ever-reliable WINDFORPOWER who thrusts himself firmly to the fore. Spirit Of Wedza set the race up for him perfectly here on his most recent start (forced a strong early pace), and the selection was comfortably on top of both that rival and Star Cracker in running out a taking 1L scorer. He's upped in grade tonight (Class 5), but a 4lb rise won't stop him from confirming those placings and with the recently wind operated upon Suwaan also a likely pace angle, he'll have everything that he could possibly desire in order to record a sixth C&D success.