14:10 Newcastle

Tuesday 23 October 2018

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:1017:45

Betway Sprint Handicap

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 1m 14.47s

(7)

Comprise²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 80| D

20/1

2-3 on the AW for former trainer Michael Bell (sold for 20,000gns in October 2017); finished tenth of 12 on his first start for this yard at Ayr (6f) three weeks ago and can be expected to benefit for that reappearance.

Form: 31945-0

(8)

Luzum¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 80

80/1

Left Dermot Weld for 18,000gns in July and has had wind surgery since; 22/1 for recent stable debut at this track (5f); expected to be sharper for that race now upped in trip; half-brother to the 7f-1m AW scorer Vatican Hill.

Form: 8-14320

(9)

Dirchill^b³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Hart| T: D Thompson| OR: 79| D

50/1

Left David Barron for £9,000 last month shortly after recording a third career win over this trip at Redcar (good to firm); raised 5lb and now makes his AW debut for new handler David Thompson.

Form: 510631

(6)

Green Fortune^p³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 80| D

10/1

Hasn't masses of AW experience, but did win on Polytrack at Chelmsford (6f) in July 2017; 3lb higher than when scoring narrowly at Yarmouth in July, but has finished a respectable second (off this mark) to the John Gosden-trained Perfection since.

Form: 0-56312

(1)

Russian Realm³²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lee| T: P T Midgley| OR: 79| D

16/1

Midfield finish in the Ayr Bronze Cup (6f) latest; hasn't managed to force his head to the front on turf in 2018 despite running some creditable races; handicap mark easing, 3lb lower than when finishing ¾L second over C&D in March.

Form: 290660

(2)

Time Zone²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: L Morris| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 79

14/1

Has returned from a lengthy absence (previously with Peter Chapple-Hyam) in reasonable enough form; hindered by racing wide latest, but more encouragement offered by his earlier 1¾L third to Chagatai (6f, Kempton).

Form: 1/575-30

(3)

John Kirkup^p1²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: A Mullen| T: M Dods| OR: 80

20/1

The introduction of cheekpieces coincides with his AW debut; finished 17th of 23 in the Ayr Bronze Cup in September, but on the premises latest when beaten 2L (third) by Dark Power at Haydock (6f).

Form: 328503

(13)

Buccaneers Vault⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: K Stott| T: P T Midgley| OR: 78| D

13/2

0-9 on the AW, but closely matched with Russian Realm on C&D form from March; well beaten in the Ayr Bronze Cup (21st of 23) in September but has finished a staying on fourth on the Polytrack at Kempton (6f) since.

Form: 385604

(10)

Kenny The Captain²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 78| CD

6/1

Slightly below par at Haydock (6f) latest, but in a sound run of form immediately prior to that with a particularly notable 3¼L fourth placed finish in the Ayr Bronze Cup in September; C&D record reads 32125.

Form: 593240

(12)

T For Tango¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: T Hamilton| T: R O'Brien| OR: 78| D

6/1

Irish raider (trainer 1-2 across the Irish Sea); decisive 3L winner of a 6f soft ground handicap at Ayr 12 days ago; higher rated on the AW despite needing to prove himself definitively on artificial surfaces.

Form: 862681

(14)

Valdolobo¹⁶⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: P J McDonald| T: K R Burke| OR: 77

15/2

His dam Eucharist was an AW winner; 0-4 on turf so far and off the track since May when finishing tenth of 15 on handicap debut at York (7f); first start over a sprint trip.

Form: 34-30

(11)

Primo's Comet¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 76| C

4/1

Course record (5f) reads 213, but he's 5lb higher than when beating Suwaan by a neck in June; appears to stay 6f, with form-lines against a couple of these rivals including John Kirkup and T For Tango.

Form: 357145

(4)

Laubali⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: C J McGovern⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 76| D

66/1

2-4 on Tapeta, but higher in the weights for his summer wins at Wolverhampton (5f-6f); must prove himself above Class 5 company.

Form: 271418

(5)

Cale Lane²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D Allan| T: J D Bethell| OR: 75| D

16/1

Took time to find her feet on turf, but has grasped the nettle from August onward, winning two of her last four starts (6f); 5lb higher than when winning by a short-head on quick ground at Leicester last month; AW debut.

Form: 331716

Forecasts

Primo's Comet (4/1), T For Tango (6/1), Kenny The Captain (6/1), Buccaneers Vault (13/2), Valdolobo (15/2), Green Fortune (10/1), Time Zone (14/1), Russian Realm (16/1), Cale Lane (16/1), John Kirkup (20/1), Comprise (20/1), Dirchill (50/1), Laubali (66/1), Luzum (80/1)

A highly competitive opener. Richard O'Brien sends his recent Ayr winner T For Tango over the Irish Sea for the second time in a fortnight, so this 3yo is respected despite having to prove himself definitively on an artificial surface. Paul Midgley is doubly represented by Russian Realm and Buccaneers Vault, and that duo are closely matched on March C&D form. Newmarket handler Robert Cowell is also doubly represented with Time Zone (Luke Morris) and GREEN FORTUNE (Andrea Atzeni). The selection exploited a drop in the weights to win at Yarmouth (6f) in late July and has also run well there since (form handsomely franked by Perfection and Lady Dancealot).