16:10 Newcastle

Tuesday 23 October 2018

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

Betway Apprentice Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 2m 44.59s

(10)

Clenymistra¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: William Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 61| BF| D

9/1

0-3 on the AW; all the way winner of a 1m2f Ripon seller in August, and caught close home when upped to this trip at Catterick recently; stiffer track a potential negative (stamina).

Form: 713827

(9)

Nearly There^t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Rhona Pindar⁽⁵⁾| T: W Storey| OR: 55

22/1

Soon beaten on handicap debut (1m4f) at Hamilton in September; no issues with the AW, but rates as vulnerable.

Form: 8459

(5)

Falcon's Fire³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Seamus Cronin| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 54| CD

7/2

1-21 on the AW; knocking at the door of late on turf, including when beaten just under 2L at Redcar (1m6f, soft) latest and this isn't overly competitive.

Form: 325262

(2)

Highwayman^h¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Jonathan Fisher⁽³⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 53| C

16/1

Yet to win beyond 1m1f, so his stamina reserves must be doubtful over this extended 1m4f trip; neck runner up to Jack Blaine (1m+ soft, Hamilton) on his penultimate start.

Form: 157620

(7)

Magic's Boy³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Robert Dodsworth| T: M Dods| OR: 57

25/1

His dam was a 7f-1m2f Fibresand winner, so he's not an obvious type for this trip; low key so far, including when finishing seventh of 11 to Mister Ambassador over 1m2f here in July; handicap debut.

Form: 674

(1)

Life Knowledge^b¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Faye McManoman| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 50| CD

7/1

1-34 career (maiden on turf); 1lb lower than when finishing 6½L fourth of 14 to Trautmann over C&D latest.

Form: 424294

(8)

Bromance^p³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Harry Russell⁽⁵⁾| T: P D Niven| OR: 47

9/2

1-23 career; placed in a 2m Market Rasen maiden hurdle in August, and finished a staying on seventh of 13 (beaten approx 4L) to Highway Robber over C&D last month; chance.

Form: 9-56677

(4)

Don't Do It^t⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Sebastian Woods| T: I Jardine| OR: 51

11/4

12-race maiden who has done okay on the whole (2593) since joining this yard from Irish handler Robert Tyner; beaten just 1¼L by subsequent Dundalk winner Red Charmer at Musselburgh (1m1f seller) last week; 0-2 on AW.

Form: 482593

(6)

Mount Cleshar^p1²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Oliver Stammers⁽³⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 45

10/1

11-race maiden; shown bits and pieces of ability in 2018, and merits respect based on his 4L third to Sanam at Chelmsford (1m6f) in July; cheekpieces applied; trainer 2-13 (15%) at Newcastle.

Form: 363430

Non-Runners

(3)

Kilcoran⁸

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: P A Kirby J: Josh Quinn

Forecasts

Don't Do It (11/4), Falcon's Fire (7/2), Bromance (9/2), Life Knowledge (7/1), Clenymistra (9/1), Mount Cleshar (10/1), Highwayman (16/1), Kilcoran (16/1), Nearly There (22/1), Magic's Boy (25/1)

A case of after the Lord Mayor's Show (the Fast Track Qualifier), this divided 1m4f Class 6 Apprentices Handicap makes precious little overall appeal. Expect the likes of Bromance and Clenymistra (stamina to conclusively prove) to be involved in the shake up, whilst Don't Do It, Mount Cleshar and Kilcoran all compete off lightweights. However, a preference is for 'the often reluctant hero' FALCON'S FIRE who has in his defence knocked at the door of late on turf, and has an eye-catching rider booked in the shape of Seamus Cronin.