20:00 Newcastle

Thursday 1 November 2018

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

Betway Handicap

Off time: 20:00 | Winning time: 1m 12.78s

(11)

Prince of Time¹⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: P Aspell| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 62

25/1

Three-time AW winner was last seen in the Spring finishing third at Wolverhampton which was a return to form. Changed yards in subsequent absence so suspicion he will need the run here.

Form: 0900-03

(13)

Highly Focussed⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: J Garritty| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 61| CD

4/1

C&D win in February one of his three successes this year. Not quite at his best in last three races but only 1lb higher than last win now and return to 6f may be in his favour so better effort likely.

Form: 251506

(1)

Skyva^p1²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: S A Gray| T: B Ellison| OR: 61| BF| D

9/1

Not beaten far the last twice with two fourths at Wolverhampton. Gets 1lb back which should help and addition of cheekpieces another possible positive so has realistic possibilities with stiff 6f likely to be ideal.

Form: 31-2044

(5)

Indian Warrior⁵²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 60

7/1

17 starts for Ed Dunlop passed without success and now starts out for a new trainer. Third over C&D last year an excellent effort and also second at Lingfield this year so has possibilities if revitalised by change of scenery.

Form: 632705

(10)

Black Hambleton¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Harry Russell⁽⁷⁾| T: B Smart| OR: 55| C

3/1

Previous course winner over 7f almost landed a bit of a touch latest when running on well into second over C&D. Same mark here so has to be considered a leading contender with this surface clearly to his liking.

Form: 0-00052

(14)

Glorious Rocket^h¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: J Hodge| OR: 55| D

9/1

Some late headway here on his stable debut here latest although he was only 10th of 14. That came after an absence so possibly would have needed the run but would still need big improvement here.

Form: 407-000

(9)

Sienna Says^p²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 54| C

8/1

Course winner over 5f in August has run well over the same distance the last twice with third here and fourth at Catterick. Worth another go over 6f as she's placed over the distance before so worthy of consideration.

Form: 419834

(6)

Breathoffreshair^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Nathan Evans| T: R C Guest| OR: 52| CD

8/1

Landed a hat-trick here last year (two over C&D) but after a slow start to this season he had a wind-op. Two runs since here (last of 12) and Wolverhampton (ninth of 11) leave question marks aplenty.

Form: 539909

(4)

Viking Way^b²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Rachel Richardson| T: Olly Williams| OR: 50

9/2

Maiden placed for the third time in five starts on AW latest when headed late on and second at Wolverhampton (6f). 2lb higher here but still has to be considered a likely sort with good form here earlier this year also.

Form: 004352

(3)

Burns Supper⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: N Mackay| T: J Ewart| OR: 50WS

40/1

Unplaced in six races to date and reported to have broken a blood vessel when tailing in last at Musselburgh when last seen. Had a wind-op since but rates a very risky proposition overall.

Form: 7-76080

(2)

Ideal Spirit^h²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: S H James| T: K Tutty| OR: 46

12/1

Only once placed in her 12 starts and that last year. Followed a couple of midfield runs with a 10th of 13 as recently as Tuesday. Hard to fancy even with a first-time hood a possible positive.

Form: 476650

(8)

Princess Apollo^t1¹³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 45

33/1

First time handicapper beaten 20L, 15L and 14½L in three starts to date. Lowly handicap mark and first-time tongue-tie causes for hope but still hard to fancy.

Form: 607

Non-Runners

(7)

Hermana Santa¹⁵

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: T D Barron J: K Stott

(12)

Nifty Niece²³

Weight: 8-7| Age: 4

T: Mrs A Duffield J: A Mullen

Forecasts

Black Hambleton (3/1), Highly Focussed (4/1), Viking Way (9/2), Indian Warrior (7/1), Breathoffreshair (8/1), Sienna Says (8/1), Hermana Santa (8/1), Skyva (9/1), Glorious Rocket (9/1), Ideal Spirit (12/1), Nifty Niece (16/1), Prince of Time (25/1), Princess Apollo (33/1), Burns Supper (40/1)

BLACK HAMBLETON can solve this tricky puzzle with his second last time out the best recent form on offer and as a course winner over 7f in the past he clearly enjoys it here. Hermana Santa was hot on his heels latest when fourth and this three-year-old has scope for further improvement. Skyva arrives in the back of two good efforts and is another expected to be in the thick of things where it matters.