19:30 Newcastle

Friday 4 May 2018

All17:1017:4518:2018:5519:3020:0520:40

Newcastle United Foundation Handicap

Off time: 19:37 | Winning time: 1m 27.01s

(2)

Von Blucher^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 96| CD

14/1

Winner of a Class 2 handicap over C&D in January off this rating, hasn't beaten a rival home in three starts since, two of them on turf. Hit and miss character is hard to trust.

Form: 90-1708

(5)

Robero⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 90| CD

5/1

C&D winner in much lower grade in 2016 for Brian Ellison, was in excellent form this time last year for current handler but must improve significantly on recent Haydock reappearance.

Form: 09307-7

(1)

War Department^v⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 89| CD

12/1

Very rarely runs a bad race at this track and is a three-time C&D winner, including in June last year off a 2lb higher mark on previous visit. March reappearance at Southwell was poor, but can likely discount that coming back here.

Form: 31008-7

(10)

Bint Arcano⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: P Mulrennan| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 88| CD

7/1

Excellent strike rate with six wins from 21 career starts, proving equally at home on turf and AW. Ultimately held in two Wolverhampton runs this year, eased 2lb now and should be competitive.

Form: 1314-45

(8)

Golden Steps^h²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: D Tudhope| T: J S Goldie| OR: 88| D

25/1

Some fair form for Marco Botti at first but has had an interrupted career since and looks set for a minor role given his recent poor effort at Wolverhampton (albeit over 5f).

Form: 6731/5-5

(7)

Gurkha Friend¹⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: T Eaves| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 85

28/1

All five career wins have been on turf, with four previous AW runs all below par so enough question marks to leave him out of calculations returned from a break.

Form: 868007-

(6)

Strong Steps²¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 83

33/1

Useful form on the AW during 2015/16 for Hugo Palmer, won over 1m at Ayr last summer for this trainer but more poor efforts than good ones. Returns from a break and may need the outing.

Form: 281407-

(4)

Custard The Dragon^p⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: J Fanning| T: J Mackie| OR: 83| D

8/1

Latest success came on the fibresand at Southwell over this trip in January, rated 2lb higher now but has run well this C&D before.

Form: 2-17345

(9)

Spanish City³¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 83| C

5/4

Struggles to get to the track, with just five runs since debut in August 2015, has won over 6f here from lower mark, back from latest 314-day absence now. Capable fresh, trainer can have him ready and noted in market.

Form: 21416/4-

(3)

Bambino Lola²³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J Quinn| T: A West| OR: 91| D

11/1

Filly won two of her first three starts last season on turf and ended campaign with a decent effort in a Salisbury Group over 6f (good). Makes AW bow on return and should be open to progress.

Form: 1318-

Forecasts

Spanish City (5/4), Robero (5/1), Bint Arcano (7/1), Custard The Dragon (8/1), Bambino Lola (11/1), War Department (12/1), Von Blucher (14/1), Golden Steps (25/1), Gurkha Friend (28/1), Strong Steps (33/1)

Spanish City is intriguing off his latest layoff and Hugo Palmer's charge isn't one to discount, despite his infrequent trips to the racetrack. The filly Bambino Lola was not disgraced in a Group 3 when last out and could have a role here if taking to the AW while Bint Arcano and Custard The Dragon have their own merits. WAR DEPARTMENT thrives at this track however and is 2lb lower than when winning over C&D last summer on his previous visit. This place can bring the best out of him.

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