17:10 Newcastle

Tuesday 9 October 2018

All17:1017:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

188Bet Mobile Bet10 Get20 Handicap

Off time: 17:16 | Winning time: 2m 39.24s

(10)

Swansway^b²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 64| C| D

4/1

Hasn't won since July 2017 (1m4f, Catterick), but has kept solid form of late and was regularly competitive at this track (over 1m) once upon a time; handicapped to have a say.

Form: 233434

(4)

Hussar Ballad²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 64| D

14/1

A winner off this mark at Wolverhampton (1m6f) in October 2017 and placed off a 2lb higher perch over C&D in March; yet to win here on the AW (turf scorer in 2014), but shouldn't be hastily dismissed.

Form: 340545

(9)

Exclusive Waters¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁷⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 60| C

12/1

Just 4lb higher than when finishing with a fair old rattle to reel in Majestic Stone by a nose over 1m2f here in August, and a runner-up to a shock winner latest; excuses for C&D effort in-between (blindfold removed late).

Form: 383162

(7)

Trautmann^p,t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: G Mosse| T: R Menzies| OR: 59| BF| D

10/1

Took time to break the maiden tag, but was denied a 1m4f+ Musselburgh hat-trick by Archipeligo in August; slowly away when producing a dismal effort at Catterick (1m4f) a month ago; 0-6 on the AW (handles Tapeta).

Form: 261130

(8)

Poetic Steps⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Oliver Stammers⁽⁷⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 65| D

22/1

Has failed to beat a single rival in two previous AW starts (1m-1m1f), and has appeared to train off a fraction as the turf season has progressed (peak form in May/June over 1m4f-1m6f); plenty of others with far fewer doubts.

Form: 427444

(11)

Point Of Honour¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J Garritty| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 63

10/1

Former Simon Crisford inmate (sold for 9,000gns in July); has failed to progress since introduced to handicaps, dropping 9lb in the weights since racing over 1m6f at Redcar in late August; AW switch looks to be the only positive (dam 7f AW winner).

Form: 843505

(6)

Champagne Rules^t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: P Aspell| T: Mrs S A Watt| OR: 57| CD

33/1

Progressive in late 2017, making a mockery of his mark of 52 when bolting up by 7L over C&D in an apprentices handicap; fairly lightly raced in 2018, and could feasibly come on for a Wolverhampton spin (1m+) last month.

Form: 11-4200

(1)

Last Chance Paddy⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 55

25/1

Seven-race maiden; finished 3½L fourth to Valkenburg at Catterick (1m4f, good to firm) last week, but no obvious reason to expect a reversal of those placings on similar terms.

Form: 58-6784

(3)

Cliff Bay^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: M Stainton| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 55

100/1

Sold cheaply out of the Keith Dalgleish yard in July (2,500gns); handicap mark plummeting after finishing last of 14 on stable debut (slowly away) at Catterick last month; 0-2 on the AW.

Form: 3-30070

(14)

Valkenburg^p⁸^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 55| D

7/1

Made all of the running, staying on strongly when springing a 28/1 surprise at Catterick (1m4f, good to firm) last week; 6lb penalty is offset by an earlier scheduled 7lb drop by the assessor; rock-solid chance if handling the AW (debut).

Form: 756871

(13)

Coral Queen¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: R Craggs| OR: 54

5/2

Ten-race maiden; remarkably has been placed on all four starts since returning from a near three-year career hiatus in July; 1L runner-up to the progressive Island Song over C&D (Class 5) last month; 3lb higher tonight.

Form: 40/3322

(12)

Life Knowledge^b1¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: B A Curtis| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 51| CD

8/1

C&D winner in February 2017, but that's the sole victory on his CV in 33 starts; has raced over hurdles at Sedgefield since finishing 6L second to Pammi at Hamilton (1m4f) in August; exposed, but is wearing first-time blinkers.

Form: 642429

(2)

Connoisseur^p²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 54

33/1

Cut little ice when sent off 9/4f on handicap debut at Brighton (1m2f) early last month, and fared no better over further on Polytrack at Chelmsford a week later; dropped 3lb, and still one to keep on side; dam Critical Acclaim a 1m4f AW winner.

Form: 090-58

Non-Runners

(5)

Careyanne¹¹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: D Loughnane J: Hayley Turner

Forecasts

Coral Queen (5/2), Swansway (4/1), Valkenburg (7/1), Life Knowledge (8/1), Trautmann (10/1), Point Of Honour (10/1), Exclusive Waters (12/1), Hussar Ballad (14/1), Careyanne (14/1), Poetic Steps (22/1), Last Chance Paddy (25/1), Champagne Rules (33/1), Connoisseur (33/1), Cliff Bay (100/1)

Plenty in with reasonable chances including course regulars Exclusive Waters and Swansway, whilst the unexposed 3yo filly Connoisseur is worthy of respect given her connections, and despite her decidedly low-key start to life in handicap company. However, this race revolves around whether or not the Keith Dalgleish-trained VALKENBURG handles an artificial surface or not. He was a totally different proposition when making all of the running to score emphatically at odds of 28/1 at Catterick last week (Last Chance Paddy fourth), and despite incurring a 6lb penalty, actually races off 1lb lower owing to an earlier scheduled 7lb drop by the assessor.