18:30 Newcastle

Thursday 1 November 2018

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

Follow Top Tipster Templegate At Sun Racing Handicap

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 1m 26.12s

(3)

Mujassam^b¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: C J McGovern⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 82| D

16/1

Gone six races without success now since landing a summer hat-trick North of the border. Slight improvement latest after a couple of lesser efforts but overall he needs more than recent efforts to take advantage of falling mark.

Form: 330065

(1)

Black Isle Boy²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: S H James| T: D O'Meara| OR: 82

40/1

Has an impressive strike rate at four from 11 but after winning on seasonal reappearance in April he missed 136 days and has been laboured since with a last of 18 and 18th of 19. Now tries 7f for first time but hard to be confident.

Form: 270-100

(4)

Armed Response³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 82| C

14/1

Won both starts at this course, his only two on AW last year, both over 6f. Three runs this season well below that level but latest came after a layoff so could have needed the run and back here he makes more appeal off a workable mark.

Form: 611-587

(10)

Twin Appeal^v³³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Gemma Tutty⁽³⁾| T: K Tutty| OR: 80| D

8/1

Gained first success for this yard over 7½f at Beverley in penultimate start before finishing mid-division at Chester. Ran well here before on this surface so no concerns there and should go well despite handicap being a little high.

Form: 005415

(8)

Oud Metha Bridge¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Shelley Birkett⁽³⁾| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 80| C

6/1

Both career wins at 1m on AW including here in 2017. Took advantage of lower turf mark latest when bouncing back from two laboured efforts with a close third at Yarmouth. AW mark demands more but capable if back to his best.

Form: 333002

(6)

Equiano Springs³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Sullivan| T: T P Tate| OR: 78| CD

7/2

Dual C&D winner last Winter returned here latest over 1m after an inauspicious turf campaign and led for a long way before tiring over 1m. Back to 7f will suit and handicap has fallen enough to make him a genuine contender here.

Form: 1-70836

(5)

Deansgate²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Hart| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 76| CD

4/1

Always runs well here and made first start at the track since January C&D win when narrowly touched off latest over C&D, going down by just a head. Upped 2lb for that but still fully expectant of a bold bid once again.

Form: 603062

(9)

Elusive Heights⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 75

3/1

Yet to win in 11 starts for this yard. Last three starts all over 1m here and latest was quite eye-catching where he finished strongly for fourth after meeting trouble. Drop to 7f not ideal but suspect a maiden win for this yard is imminent.

Form: 350454

(2)

Thello¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 73| C

7/1

Three time course winner over 1m/1m2f. Relatively lightly raced this term but last three runs been positive over 6f, last twice here. Extra 1f here can only be considered a positive given CV in the past and therefore rates a leading contender.

Form: 090332

(7)

Fingal's Cave⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: A Mullen| T: P A Kirby| OR: 67| CD

20/1

Seven-time winner but only won once in 21 starts for current yard, that in June 2017. Close fifth in 7f Catterick handicap in August best effort this season but disappointed next and off since so question marks aplenty now.

Form: 707850

Forecasts

Elusive Heights (3/1), Equiano Springs (7/2), Deansgate (4/1), Oud Metha Bridge (6/1), Thello (7/1), Twin Appeal (8/1), Armed Response (14/1), Mujassam (16/1), Fingal's Cave (20/1), Black Isle Boy (40/1)

THELLO has finished third and second here in his last two starts, both over 6f but as a previous course winner over as far as 1m2f he will surely be even stronger now upped to 7f and can continue his progression in a competitive handicap. Deansgate is another horse who enjoys this course and he too finished second here in his latest run over C&D so is a leading player again. Elusive Heights caught the eye latest and although dropping back to 7f may not be ideal he still merits serious consideration.