21:00 Newcastle

Monday 24 September 2018

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Say Consultancy Fillies' Handicap

Off time: 21:05 | Winning time: 1m 26.88s

(7)

Alexandrakollontai^b³^{(ex 6)}

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: G C O'Neill⁽⁵⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 74| C| D

7/2

Tough mare who has added two more wins to her CV this season, most recently over 1m here on Friday. Effective at this trip, and has a good record when turned out quickly, so one to consider.

Form: 231601

(5)

Roman Spinner^t¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: L Morris| T: Rae Guest| OR: 77| D

9/1

Good efforts to make the frame on first three runs this season, and excuses for a rare flop last time when racing without her usual tongue tie. Should bounce back, but she is still 12lb above her last winning mark.

Form: 13-2249

(1)

La Isla Bonita^p³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: T P Queally| T: R Spencer| OR: 73| D

20/1

Has won three times over 7f at Yarmouth this season, making all for two of those victories. Ran badly at Newmarket last month, but that not her form, and she should get back on track.

Form: 413125

(2)

Grise Lightning¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 75

16/1

Beat a next-time-out winner over 6f at Hamilton on her return, but hasn't confirmed that form in a couple of subsequent outings on easy ground. May do better switched to this surface, and too early to write her off in handicaps.

Form: 24-105

(3)

The Stalking Moon³⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: A Mullen| T: J Mackie| OR: 71| D

40/1

Dual 7f winner for John Quinn last year, but her form tailed off in the autumn, and she is making her debut for a new yard after almost a year on the sidelines. Best watched.

Form: 716409-

(6)

Culdrose⁷⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 74

8/1

Much her best effort this year when runner-up in a 1m handicap at Leicester in June. Disappointing at Doncaster last time, however, and needs to put that eclipse firmly behind her.

Form: 94324

(8)

Counter Spirit²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: B A Curtis| T: I Mohammed & J Santos| OR: 69| D

11/10

Improved to land a 7f handicap at Wolverhampton last month, and progressed again when runner-up over C&D last time, doing best work at the finish. More to come, and will take the beating in current form.

Form: 3-72312

(4)

Bibbidibobbidiboo³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: T Hamilton| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 70| BF| D

25/1

Creditable efforts when runner-up at Hamilton (6f) and Musselburgh (7f) in the summer, but ran poorly at Pontrefract when last seen. Easy enough to forgive a blip at that idiosyncratic venue, and should bounce back.

Form: 123229

(9)

Runway²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: D Allan| T: J Tate| OR: 67

10/1

Promising second over C&D on debut in April, but hasn't built on that as yet. Handicaps could be the catalyst she needs to get back on target, but would need to see market support.

Form: 256

(10)

Make On Madam³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: P Hanagan| T: J L Eyre| OR: 58| D

50/1

Does most of her racing at Beverley, winning there in May. Below form on last few starts, and hasn't cut much ice when tried here in recent times.

Form: 538490

Forecasts

Counter Spirit (11/10), Alexandrakollontai (7/2), Culdrose (8/1), Roman Spinner (9/1), Runway (10/1), Grise Lightning (16/1), La Isla Bonita (20/1), Bibbidibobbidiboo (25/1), The Stalking Moon (40/1), Make On Madam (50/1)

COUNTER SPIRIT comes here on the up, and ran as well as she ever has over C&D last time. That makes her the clear pick here, with the veteran Alexandrakollontai suggested as the value alternative under a penalty for Friday's win. Culdrose, Bibbidibobbidiboo, and La Isla Bonita have all had their progress halted by poor recent runs, but all three are capable of bouncing back given their overall form.