20:15 Newcastle

Friday 30 November 2018

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

Betway Vegas Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 20:16 | Winning time: 1m 13.5s

(2)

Dandy Highwayman^p,t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 60| D

9/2

Three-time winner (5f-6f); in free-fall in the weights since early 2018 (rated as high as 85 in March); not beaten far over 7f here latest (sixth) and this drop in trip should assist.

Form: 725066

(1)

Poppy In The Wind^b1²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: A D Brown| OR: 60| C| D

20/1

Has done herself few favours lately with a series of slow starts, so the application of blinkers is viewed positively; 9lb lower than when beaten less than 2L (third) over C&D in January.

Form: 380870

(13)

Bahango^h²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: P Morris| OR: 60| C

40/1

3-14 on the AW but badly out of form since returning from 12 months off the track; slipping markedly in the weights.

Form: 170-007

(8)

Tidal Surge⁹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: J Gelabert Bautista| T: J L Eyre| OR: 59

66/1

Winner of a 5f Ripon seller for David O'Meara in August, but never involved on her next outing at Beverley (debut for Les Eyre); makes the AW switch following a 96 day absence.

Form: 658317

(9)

Indian Warrior⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 59

4/1

20-race maiden (formerly with Ed Dunlop); finished third on debut for Ruth Carr over C&D in early November (beaten less than 1L) and has produced a couple of similar efforts since.

Form: 705354

(3)

Windforpower^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 57| C| D

20/1

Fully capable off this kind of mark and is well suited by this galloping track (a six-time winner here over 5f); in the thick of things when beaten just over 2L by The Bull latest; 6f trip the major drawback.

Form: 762404

(4)

Spirit Of Zebedee^v⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 56| BF| CD

9/2

No issues with this track or trip and from a historical perspective still resides on a winnable mark; 6lb higher than when scoring at Lingfield (6f) on his penultimate start; generally performs well for Jason Hart.

Form: 381213

(11)

Young Tiger^h⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: G Lee| T: T P Tate| OR: 54| BF| C

8/1

Finished in the mid-division when sent off 7/2jf here in September (5f) and returns from a short break tonight upped in trip; not too far above his last winning mark; suitability of a stiff 6f is debatable.

Form: 820996

(7)

Breathoffreshair^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Philip Prince| T: R C Guest| OR: 51| BF| CD

13/2

Wouldn't have been at all suited to racing at Kempton (7f) latest and competes off a similar mark to when landing a hat-trick of course wins in November 2017; closely matched with Viking Way; holds every chance.

Form: 990947

(6)

Viking Way^b²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: Olly Williams| OR: 50

9/2

13-race maiden; has finished runner-up on both of his last two starts on Tapeta, including over C&D latest (Breathoffreshair fourth); almost guaranteed to figure with a degree of prominence at the finish; riders 3lb claim helpful.

Form: 043522

(5)

Coral Caye³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: P Mathers| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 45

80/1

Ten-race maiden with precious few recommendable features on AW debut; safely overlooked from 1lb out of the handicap.

Form: 44-8700

Non-Runners

(10)

Everkyllachy³⁹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: Karen McLintock J: Jamie Gormley

(12)

Yorkshire Pudding³

Weight: 8-11| Age: 4

T: T D Easterby J: Rachel Richardson

(14)

Whigwham⁹⁷

Weight: 8-7| Age: 4

T: Gary Sanderson J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Indian Warrior (4/1), Spirit Of Zebedee (9/2), Dandy Highwayman (9/2), Viking Way (9/2), Everkyllachy (11/2), Breathoffreshair (13/2), Young Tiger (8/1), Yorkshire Pudding (14/1), Poppy In The Wind (20/1), Windforpower (20/1), Whigwham (25/1), Bahango (40/1), Tidal Surge (66/1), Coral Caye (80/1)

From low draws the eased in the weights Dandy Highwayman and the still reasonably treated C&D winner Spirit of Zebedee are capable of making their presence felt, whilst any market move for Everkyllachy could be worth following. However, the appealing horse in the line-up is the three-time course winner BREATHOFFRESHAIR. It's worth drawing a line through his latest start at Kempton, and he's far better judged on his fast-finishing C&D fourth (Viking Way second) earlier this month.