18:15 Newcastle

Friday 28 September 2018

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:4521:15

Smith Brothers Stores Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 18:18 | Winning time: 1m 0.52s

(2)

Cherry Oak²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: B Haslam| OR: 61| CD

7/2

Just 2lb higher then when winning here in March and again showed a preference for this C&D when a running on third here behind Brendan. Should be spot on now and likely to go close.

Form: 145473

(5)

Ballynarry Lady^t⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Scott McCullagh⁽⁵⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 60

28/1

Has shown little in four starts to date including on her handicap debut following an absence and wind surgery. Remains best watched.

Form: 3070

(9)

Life For Rent^v1¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Robert Dodsworth⁽⁸⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 60| BF| D

11/1

Now 6lb lower than sole handicap win and in consistent form without winning. Hasn't raced here since early in his career and should be involved again.

Form: 372443

(4)

Another Angel⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Kieran Schofield⁽⁵⁾| T: A Brittain| OR: 54| BF

5/2

Nine-race maiden who has shown his best form here and was a close fourth over the C&D last time. Should be dangerous off 2lb lower but has shaped as though a return to 6f would be ideal.

Form: 9-70634

(8)

Compton River¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Harry Russell⁽¹⁰⁾| T: B Smart| OR: 51| D

10/1

On a long losing streak but has dropped to a very tempting mark. Latest Catterick fourth suggested he can be competitive again, however stable could be in better form.

Form: 523094

(11)

De Lesseps¹²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 8-12| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁵⁾| T: H A Mcwilliams| OR: 50

100/1

Made stable debut after an absence of over a year when well beaten back in May. Hard to make a case for over a trip likely to prove much too sharp.

Form: 2838/0-0

(3)

Monsieur Mel^h⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: A Brittain| OR: 47

11/2

15-race maiden who hasn't been disgraced on his last four starts including most recently over this C&D. More required but seemed suited by the drop to this distance last time and place possibilities.

Form: 083355

(10)

Lady Joanna Vassa^h,v⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Cameron Noble⁽³⁾| T: R C Guest| OR: 45| CD

66/1

Has a C&D win but well beaten over it on last two runs and remains best watched from out of the handicap.

Form: 259600

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 20p in the pound

Non-Runners

(6)

Mr Shelby¹⁵

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: S Donohoe J: Jessica Cooley

(7)

Brendan⁸

Weight: 8-12| Age: 5

T: J S Goldie J: Phil Dennis

(1)

Iconic Figure¹³

Weight: 8-8| Age: 5

T: L R James J: Aled Beech

Forecasts

Another Angel (5/2), Cherry Oak (7/2), Monsieur Mel (11/2), Mr Shelby (6/1), Brendan (7/1), Compton River (10/1), Life For Rent (11/1), Ballynarry Lady (28/1), Iconic Figure (50/1), Lady Joanna Vassa (66/1), De Lesseps (100/1)

Brendan just has the one win but that came over this C&D and he's open to plenty of improvement in this sphere. He can return to form at this track but may find it tough to confirm form with CHERRY OAK who was running on well behind him and is likely to be fully primed after two runs back. Life For Rent needs to prove himself at this track and Another Angel would ideally like a furlong further but both are on very good handicap marks.