18:15 Newcastle

Friday 30 November 2018

All17:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Betway Live Casino Handicap

Off time: 18:17 | Winning time: 1m 12.18s

(7)

Bengali Boys^h1⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 89

16/1

Bolted up by 6L on soft ground as a juvenile in the 2017 Super Sprint Stakes (Newbury) but hasn't won since; handily weighted off a mark of 89 and sole run at this track rock-solid; newly hooded.

Form: 230400

(10)

Moonraker⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 88| D

8/1

Hasn't done too much racing on the AW (1-4), with that success coming at Southwell (5f) in August when beating Tricky Dicky by 1L; nearest at the finish (fourth) over 5f here last week; closely matched with El Hombre.

Form: 061004

(8)

Air Raid²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 87

16/1

Lightly-raced type who is a dual soft-ground 7f winner; now 8lb lower than when contesting the Beeswing Handicap on his last AW outing in July; first start over 6f.

Form: 4-14878

(9)

El Hombre⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 86| CD

4/1

Back to below his last winning mark, this 2016 C&D maiden winner showed renewed vigour when finishing 1¼L third (Moonraker fourth) to Outrage over 5f here last week; every chance.

Form: 007003

(3)

Highlight Reel¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: M L W Bell| OR: 84

10/1

Solid run over 7f at Newbury on his penultimate start (finished fifth of 20 to Bedouin's Story) and has run broadly well on all three previous AW outings; likely thereabouts on first 6f run since debut in June 2017.

Form: 137553

(14)

Valley of Fire⁶²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: J Gelabert Bautista| T: J L Eyre| OR: 82| D

80/1

7f Haydock Class 3 handicap winner for William Haggas in September 2016 (rated 86) but has failed to find his feet since joining Les Eyre for 62,000gns; off since March 2017.

Form: 41650/9-

(4)

Tommy G²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 80| D

9/1

Winner of the Consolation Race for the Stewards Cup at Goodwood (6f, good to firm) in August on a splendid afternoon for his handler Jim Goldie; not quite at peak form since; handles Tapeta.

Form: 086037

(5)

Portledge^b²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: J D Bethell| OR: 79| C

10/1

A winner on his last three visits to Gosforth Park (all over 7f); 3lb higher than when beating Harvest Day by ½L 23 days ago; stiffer task a couple of grades higher tonight (and dropped in trip).

Form: 373601

(6)

Royal Prospect³⁷²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: G Lee| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 79| CD

16/1

Progressed with each of his three starts as a juvenile and was a determined winner of a C&D novice when last seen in November 2017; pitched in deep on handicap debut, albeit an opening mark of 79 looks fair.

Form: 641-

(12)

Red Pike³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Harry Russell⁽⁷⁾| T: B Smart| OR: 79| D

33/1

Hasn't won since 2015 and hasn't run on the AW since early 2017 (0-2); beaten just a head and a neck by Musharrif at Pontefract (5f, good to soft) last month; possible claims, but others more likely.

Form: 345593

(13)

Athollblair Boy¹²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁷⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 78| CD

12/1

3-10 on the AW with 6f-7f course form between September 2017 and March 2018 reading 132121; probable that Class 3 company is overly competitive on return from a 126 absence; other days await.

Form: 153660

(2)

Nick Vedder^b⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: F Norton| T: M Wigham| OR: 78| CD

9/2

Fairly solid since joining this trainer in July 2017; 5lb higher than when a ready C&D winner (Class 5) latest; impossible to rule out despite the step up in grade; impressive form figures at Newcastle read 3313221.

Form: 431851

(1)

Dirchill^b²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Jason Hart| T: D Thompson| OR: 78| D

33/1

Left David Barron for £9,000 in September, shortly after winning at Redcar (6f, good to firm); unexposed on the AW and should win more races but tonight's assignment looks beyond his capabilities.

Form: 063188

(11)

Kenny The Captain³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 77| CD

16/1

Slightly below on his last couple of starts 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; fair C&D record.

Form: 932400

Forecasts

El Hombre (4/1), Nick Vedder (9/2), Moonraker (8/1), Tommy G (9/1), Highlight Reel (10/1), Portledge (10/1), Athollblair Boy (12/1), Royal Prospect (16/1), Air Raid (16/1), Kenny The Captain (16/1), Bengali Boys (16/1), Red Pike (33/1), Dirchill (33/1), Valley of Fire (80/1)

A very competitive Class 3 handicap which is by far the most intriguing race on Fighting Fifth Eve. El Hombre and Moonraker both acquitted themselves well in a similar contest here last week and remain closely matched accordingly. Nick Vedder is up in grade but won readily in a Class 5 handicap last month and is yet to finish outside of the frame on seven previous visits to Gosforth Park, whilst the newly hooded Bengali Boys looks potentially dangerous off a reduced handicap mark of 89. However, in a wide open race, the selection is HIGHLIGHT REEL under the reigning AW Champion Jockey Luke Morris.