17:40 Newcastle

Wednesday 19 December 2018

All15:2015:5516:3017:0517:4018:1518:4519:15

sunracing.co.uk Handicap

Off time: 17:42 | Winning time: 1m 41.8s

(9)

Testa Rossa^b²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 75| CD

5/1

Six-time C&D winner; furthermore has finished runner-up on each of his last two C&D starts; in there pitching as always despite gradually inching up the weights; 6lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 617242

(7)

Elusive Heights⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Ben Sanderson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 74| D

7/1

Continually comes up a fraction short despite having raced consistently well at this track over the past three months (7f-1m); handicapped to have a say at least now dropping back to Class 5 company.

Form: 045473

(5)

Escape Clause^h²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 70

66/1

Stayed on well when chasing home Alfred Richardson off this mark at Wetherby (1m2f) in June; trip excuses when well beaten on recent Wolverhampton return; AW effectiveness (0-3) taken solely on trust; unlikely.

Form: 6005-20

(11)

Newmarket Warrior^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: I Jardine| OR: 70| CD

12/1

Enigmatic character who needs the cards to drop his way (best delivered as late as possible); three-time C&D winner who has plenty of previous with fellow course specialist Testa Rossa.

Form: 541555

(6)

Gilded Heaven³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 71| BF| CD

5/1

Cosily fended off Billy Bond when justifying favouritism over C&D (Class 6) in early November; unable to follow up (off this mark - 6lb higher) on Fibresand at Southwell, albeit with valid excuses; respected.

Form: 6-87715

(10)

Merweb²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: P J McDonald| T: H Main| OR: 71| BF

2/1

Slowly finding his way for Heather Main (unraced for John Gosden), and remains open to further improvement; beaten a mere ¾L by Ruby Gates in a Class 5 Wolverhampton handicap latest, a race which has yielded subsequent winners.

Form: 4322

(4)

Tukhoom^v1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Hart| T: M Herrington| OR: 70| D

7/1

A reliable sort between 7f and 1m; has run some of his best races at this track, including when finishing 1L third to Portledge (7f) last month; the newly applied visor wouldn't need to eke out too much improvement.

Form: 033336

(8)

Desert Dream^t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 68| D

11/1

Fairly productive over 7f on soft ground during September and October (19232) and remains feasibly treated off a mark of 68. However, has limited AW experience and this stiff mile could prove overly taxing.

Form: 923280

(1)

Valentino Boy¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: H Bethell| OR: 65| D

80/1

6lb lower than when beaten a nose by Rock Warbler over 7f here in September 2017, but yet to deliver the goods at all in three starts for Harriet Bethell (£15,000 purchase); couldn't be recommended.

Form: 452-008

(12)

Paparazzi⁹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 66| D

28/1

Has failed to set the cameras clicking since a string of solid placed efforts (7f-1m) on quick ground in June; no issues with a synthetic surface; dropped a further 2lb since his last start at Pontefract in September.

Form: 234430

(2)

Kilbaha Lady¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: N Tinkler| OR: 64| CD

33/1

C&D winner off a 4lb lower mark in September 2017 (Class 6); fluffed the start but still ran well when finishing 4½L fourth to Ascot Week over C&D a fortnight ago; should be stronger for that run (her first since August).

Form: 132544

(13)

Somewhere Secret¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: J P Fahy| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 62

18/1

Not a regular winner by any means (1-23) but plenty of positives to be drawn from his two AW starts, including when sent off at 20/1 when beaten 1½L by Etikaal over 7f here latest; worthy of respect from the same handicap mark.

Form: 550652

(3)

Corked¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Cam Hardie| T: A C Whillans| OR: 60| BF

40/1

Ran well on her penultimate start (1m+ Wolverhampton) when finishing runner-up to Whatwouldyouknow (Class 6), but not so effective next time and others hold far more pressing claims in a competitive race.

Form: 745528

Forecasts

Merweb (2/1), Gilded Heaven (5/1), Testa Rossa (5/1), Elusive Heights (7/1), Tukhoom (7/1), Desert Dream (11/1), Newmarket Warrior (12/1), Somewhere Secret (18/1), Paparazzi (28/1), Kilbaha Lady (33/1), Corked (40/1), Escape Clause (66/1), Valentino Boy (80/1)

These 1m Class 4 and Class 5 Newcastle handicaps appear more and more competitive by the meeting, so one could take plenty of pot-shots at solving this particular puzzle without necessarily hitting the target. The likes of Testa Rossa, Newmarket Warrior and Tukhoom are standing dishes at Gosforth Park, whilst far less exposed types in this race include the three-year-old's Merweb and Gilded Heaven. However, in seeking each-way value, a couple against the field are Kilbaha Lady (possibly stronger for a recent run) and the highly-drawn SOMEWHERE SECRET who should soon find a winning opportunity on the AW from his current handicap mark of 62.