17:45 Newcastle

Wednesday 17 October 2018

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

Best Odds Guaranteed At 188Bet Handicap

Off time: 17:45 | Winning time: 2m 42.84s

(9)

Akamanto¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 82| D

40/1

Enjoyed a most productive summer with three turf wins (1m3f-1m5f) on the CV; handicap mark rising sharply but continues to run well, beaten only by the all the way winner Multellie at Ripon (1m4f) latest; first AW run since April 2017 (debut).

Form: 121102

(12)

Mutadaffeq^t1²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 81| D

80/1

0-3 at this track in late 2016 (6L runner up in a maiden); below par since winning off this mark at Ripon (1m4f, good to firm) in July, but has the tongue-tie applied tonight which could help aid a recovery.

Form: 214409

(4)

Thunderbolt Rocks²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Josephine Gordon| T: H Palmer| OR: 86

9/4

57,000gns yearling; lightly-raced; has to prove that he stays this trip (every chance of doing so on pedigree); 2-2 on the AW, including when justifying favouritism on handicap debut at Wolverhampton (1m1f+) last month; 7lb higher.

Form: 01-414

(11)

Amlad¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: K Stott| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 80| D

16/1

Runner up from a 6lb higher mark on his sole C&D start (September 2017), but was in better form back then; disappointing so far in 2018, but could benefit for a recent run at Wolverhampton (his first start for three months).

Form: 28-3066

(10)

Rake's Progress³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Ray Dawson⁽⁵⁾| T: H Main| OR: 77

7/1

His AW experiences are mainly limited to the Kempton Polytrack; without a win this year, but has run some respectable races in defeat, most notably when beaten just over 1L by Dubawi Prince at Newmarket (1m4f July) in August.

Form: 733926

(2)

Cross My Mind²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: R Kingscote| T: R M Beckett| OR: 81| CD

11/4

Progressive filly who maintained her unbeaten record at this track when scorching clear to beat Kings Proctor by 4L over C&D last month; a 7lb rise will make life more difficult, but she's very much one to keep on your side; key player.

Form: 217131

(5)

Briardale²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: G Lee| T: J D Bethell| OR: 75| C

18/1

Twice a winner here (1m2f), but an eased last of 12 in the Seaton Delaval Handicap (1m) on her last visit in June 2017; continued to regress since, falling 25lb in the weights, so is opposed with stamina also a major concern.

Form: 0-07589

(6)

Groveman¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Cam Hardie| T: C Hills| OR: 79| D

25/1

250,000gns yearling; difficult to knock either of his AW performances so far, including when finishing a close up third to Rustang at Wolverhampton (1m4f) 12 days ago; both of his turf wins came on firm ground; chance.

Form: 211023

(1)

Hareeq²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: J Fanning| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 79

16/1

420,000gns yearling; winner of a 1m novice on debut at Pontefract in August, he disappointed on soft ground at Carlisle thereafter; better on the AW (1m2f) at Lingfield latest, but wouldn't want to be slowly away on handicap bow from inside berth.

Form: 153

(7)

Gododdin²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J Mitchell| T: H Palmer| OR: 78

8/1

300,000gns yearling; stablemate of Thunderbolt Rocks; has raced exclusively on turf since debuting at Chelmsford in September 2017, winning twice over 1m2f on quick ground; higher in the weights with stamina to conclusively prove.

Form: 134914

(3)

Ad Libitum^p²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 78| D

40/1

Consistent during the summer with turf wins at Carlisle (1m3f) and Ripon (1m4f); just 1lb above his last winning mark but started at 66/1 when beaten in excess of 4L by Cross My Mind over C&D latest; 0-6 on the AW.

Form: 252054

(8)

Quantatmental¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: P J McDonald| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 76| D

9/1

Back from a ten week break when making all to score by almost 3L at Wolverhampton 11 days ago; 5lb higher in the weights in a more competitive race, but worthy of respect now AW proven and as a three-time winner in 2018.

Form: 115551

Forecasts

Thunderbolt Rocks (9/4), Cross My Mind (11/4), Rake's Progress (7/1), Gododdin (8/1), Quantatmental (9/1), Hareeq (16/1), Amlad (16/1), Briardale (18/1), Groveman (25/1), Ad Libitum (40/1), Akamanto (40/1), Mutadaffeq (80/1)

A competitive contest with plenty of the major southern-based yards represented. Sir Michael Stoute saddles the handicap newcomer Hareeq, who often does himself few favours with a tendency to start tardily, while Hugo Palmer is doubly represented by Gododdin and the more interesting lightly-raced (& AW unbeaten) Thunderbolt Rocks. However, it'll take a brave soul to oppose the Ralph Beckett-trained CROSS MY MIND. This filly has a very likeable attitude, and showed her rivals a clean pair of heels when scooting home by 4L over C&D last month. A 7lb rise in the weights (in a slightly more competitive race) doesn't appear enough to thwart her positive momentum.