19:45 Newcastle

Friday 30 November 2018

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

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Off time: 19:45 | Winning time: 1m 40.83s

(5)

Matterhorn³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| D

5/4

70,000gns foal; switched to the AW (1m, Chelmsford) for his second start when justifying short odds in a maiden in commanding style; carries a penalty but looks just the type to keep on progressing.

Form: 31

(2)

Middlescence²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Hart| T: L Egerton| OR: 65

10/1

Ex Dermot Weld-trained; cost €57,000 as a yearling but sold for just 800gns 12 months ago; recorded a creditable effort when beaten 2¾L (third) by Sweet Nature over C&D three weeks ago.

Form: 0-43

(3)

Phantasmal¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: P Mathers| T: W Coltherd

28/1

Cost €150,000 as a juvenile but has evidently had issues, ending up with Stuart Coltherd as an unraced 4yo; started 33/1 when finishing runner-up to Jadeyra (beaten 4½L) at Southwell a fortnight ago.

Form: 62

(8)

Al Reef²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby

28/1

Kicked off the season with Saeed Bin Suroor (180,000gns yearling), but sold for a much reduced £12,000 in August; slowly away and well beaten on stable debut at Wolverhampton (11th of 13) in early November.

Form: 40

(7)

Dejan¹³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: G Lee| T: B Smart

50/1

45,000gns yearling; hasn't shown a great deal of ability in two starts on turf (7f-1m), so plenty of improvement is required on his first racecourse appearance since mid-July; AW debut.

Form: 67

(4)

Holy Heart^t1³⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden

11/10

Holy Roman Emperor gelding; fitted with a tongue-tie for his first start in almost 12 months; slowly away on debut at Wolverhampton (1m+), but finished a staying on 3¾L third to Mr Reckless; trainer 26-70 (37%) at Newcastle.

Form: 3-

(6)

Thaayer^t1⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: R Menzies

13/2

Twice-placed on synthetic surfaces for Owen Burrows (7f-1m) prior to being sold for 19,000gns in October; fitted with a tongue-tie on debut for an in-form trainer; shorter trip (7f) possibly preferable; respected.

Form: 33

(1)

The Brora Pobbles¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Cam Hardie| T: A C Whillans

250/1

Cost a mere £1,500 as a juvenile and has predictably struggled at big prices so far (7f-1m1f+); safely ignored.

Form: 98

Forecasts

Holy Heart (11/10), Matterhorn (5/4), Thaayer (13/2), Middlescence (10/1), Phantasmal (28/1), Al Reef (28/1), Dejan (50/1), The Brora Pobbles (250/1)

A few cast-offs from higher profile trainers, but Thaayer is certainly noteworthy on debut for the in-form Rebecca Menzies. The strike-rate of John Gosden on Newcastle's Tapeta is well documented and that trainer persists with the unexposed and now tongue-tied Holy Heart. However, the penalised MATTERHORN is the most logical option. Prominent racing tactics aren't the easiest over this straight mile, but the Mark Johnston-trained 3yo is unlikely to be found wanting for stamina (was declared over further at the recently abandoned Chelmsford fixture), and he rates as a progressive and likeable individual.