18:45 Newcastle

Friday 28 September 2018

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

Lee Sterry Sports Coaching Handicap

Off time: 18:48 | Winning time: 1m 12.42s

(3)

Ninjago¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: L Morris| T: P T Midgley| OR: 73| D

9/1

Hasn't won for over a year but has been going close on a number of occasions and a very good third at Doncaster last time. Should go well again back in grade and deserves a win.

Form: 438423

(10)

Thello¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 72| C

4/1

Ran well when a running on third on first try at a sprinting distance and can be competitive again. Has more to offer at this trip but remains 4lb higher than last win which came over a mile here.

Form: 61-0903

(6)

Areen Faisal^t²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 74| D

33/1

Sole win came for Richard Fahey and largely inconsistent for current stable. Dropping in the handicap again but last three runs have been poor.

Form: 094689

(11)

Bahango³⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Sullivan| T: P Morris| OR: 70| C

50/1

Progressive on the AW last year before disappointing on last two runs. Tends to need first run back and others preferred after nearly a year off the track.

Form: 142170-

(9)

Musharrif⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: D Carroll| OR: 70

11/4

Narrowly denied two wins in a row over 5f at Beverley and remains well handicapped. Yet to win in eight starts on the AW but has raced well here previously. Can be involved again although others may be better suited by trip.

Form: 236612

(14)

Secretinthepark^b¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 70| D

16/1

In good form in last three starts over 5f on turf. First run here but has acted on AW surfaces previously. Step up in trip suits and likely to go close down in grade.

Form: 900423

(13)

Mutabaahy^h²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 71| D

6/1

Paid the price with the handicapper for a fine run of form earlier this season and despite 2lb ease, still looks on a mark too high. Acts well here but needs to step up on last three runs.

Form: 335856

(4)

Kommander Kirkup³²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: A Mullen| T: M Herrington| OR: 69| D

33/1

Does act on this surface but prefers the fibresand and hard to recommend on latest five runs since last win in March.

Form: 175007

(12)

First Excel^b⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Kevin Lundie⁽⁵⁾| T: S R Bowring| OR: 69| CD

40/1

Has been racing off a competitive mark on turf and comes here off the back of a solid fifth at Catterick. Acts well here and particularly at Southwell but resumes on the AW on a very high handicap mark.

Form: 16-0205

(1)

Poppy In The Wind^v⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Hart| T: A D Brown| OR: 67| C| D

50/1

Tends to need the first run from a break and was slowly away and never figured on last two starts. Remains best watched.

Form: 1-63380

(2)

Fard¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Cameron Noble⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 67

25/1

Showed promise in first three starts for current stable since leaving Simon Crisford but last two have been very poor and remains easy to overlook.

Form: 525300

(5)

Epeius³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: B Haslam| OR: 64| CD

11/1

Infrequent winner but one of just two career wins did come over this C&D early last year. Not disgraced here two starts back but more required on balance of form.

Form: 631468

(8)

Silver Starlight^t⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 64| D

14/1

Dropping in the weights but a bit disappointing last time at Doncaster. Suited by a softer surface on turf and needs to prove her liking for this on AW debut.

Form: 675435

(7)

Bidding War^b¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: T Hamilton| T: J Tate| OR: 63

10/1

Five-race maiden who returned to the promise of her debut when a running on fourth at Salisbury. Open to improvement on AW debut, however can be slowly away and possibly needs further.

Form: 5-4374

Forecasts

Musharrif (11/4), Thello (4/1), Mutabaahy (6/1), Ninjago (9/1), Bidding War (10/1), Epeius (11/1), Silver Starlight (14/1), Secretinthepark (16/1), Fard (25/1), Kommander Kirkup (33/1), Areen Faisal (33/1), First Excel (40/1), Poppy In The Wind (50/1), Bahango (50/1)

Providing he goes well on this surface SECRETINTHEPARK has a lot going for him with the drop in grade and step up a furlong. He looks primed for a big run while Ninjago is likeable and consistent and should be involved again for last year's winning stable. Musharrif arguably would prefer a furlong shorter but is in flying form and can make a bold bid.