18:45 Newcastle

Wednesday 19 December 2018

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

Betway Heed Your Hunch Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 18:51 | Winning time: 1m 12.11s

(8)

Sir Ottoman^p¹⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Jason Hart| T: I Furtado| OR: 67| DWS

5/2

Has struggled to make any significant impact on these shores (three-time winner in France); plunging in the weights so any market support could be worth noting following wind surgery; otherwise rates as very difficult to recommend.

Form: 509988

(3)

Insurplus¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Corey Madden⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 63| BF| C

8/1

Course winner (7f) in November 2017 who has knocked at the door of late; 2lb lower than when finishing a close-up fifth to Etikaal here (7f) latest; inexperienced riders 7lb claim helpful; player.

Form: 450625

(13)

Duke Cosimo⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: M Herrington| OR: 62| CD

7/1

Run down late by Supaulette over C&D on his penultimate start, but grittily made amends when scoring by a head at Kempton (6f) just seven days later; off since (70 days) and 2lb higher in the weights; place chance.

Form: 763521

(2)

Avenue Of Stars^v²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 61| CD

9/1

Neck winner from a 4lb lower mark over C&D in August; below-par in his most recent outings, although it should be noted that his locally-based trainer was among the winners at this track on Saturday afternoon.

Form: 817040

(5)

Skyva^p¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 59| D

13/2

Has some very respectable recent efforts on his CV, so could figure prominently in the finish; held close home when finishing fourth (beaten a head, a nose and a short-head) by Roaring Rory, Kroy and others over C&D 19 days ago; same mark.

Form: 044534

(6)

Kroy^p¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: C J McGovern⁽³⁾| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 56| BF| CD

3/1

Like so many of his stablemates, is in rude health of late (1,3,2); just held (beaten a head) by Roaring Rory over C&D 19 days ago; competes off the same handicap mark tonight and is therefore closely matched with Skyva.

Form: 538132

(11)

Black Hambleton⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Harry Russell⁽⁷⁾| T: B Smart| OR: 54| BF| C

16/1

No win since January (7f, Newcastle) but has been well backed in each of his last two starts; holds broadly similar form claims to the likes of Skyva and Duke Cosimo, so no real surprise if he's on the premises.

Form: 000526

(10)

Peachey Carnehan^v⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: J P Sullivan| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 53| D

16/1

Beaten just ½L over 7f at Leicester in September but hasn't kicked on overly positively since, including in three starts on the AW (6f-1m+ at Wolverhampton); needs much more.

Form: 288070

(12)

Sunnyside Lady^t¹⁰⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 50WS

40/1

Inexpensive filly (£1,200 yearling); has shown no worthwhile form so far, hence the lowly opening mark of 50; all hopes pinned on wind surgery proving beneficial.

Form: 640

(14)

Cliff Bay^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Noel Garbutt⁽³⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 50

200/1

Sold cheaply out of the Keith Dalgleish yard in July (2,500gns); 0-4 on the AW; handicap mark plummeting for a good reason (woeful of late); holds little chance.

Form: 007000

(4)

Yorkshire Pudding^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 48

25/1

15-race maiden; beaten 4L (third) by Thirlmere on her first AW start over C&D last month (fillies' novice stakes), and nearest at the finish on Fibresand at Southwell since; not wholly dismissed but would be a surprising winner nevertheless.

Form: 874036

(1)

Hit The Lights^b,e/s1⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-3| J: P Mathers| T: A West| OR: 45| D

125/1

Has completely lost his way in recent years and an official rating of 37 in no way flatters; couldn't be entertained as a 13-race AW maiden despite the presence of various newly applied aids.

Form: 8-00790

Non-Runners

(9)

Johnny Cavagin²

Weight: 9-11| Age: 9

T: P T Midgley J: G Lee

(7)

Broken Wings²

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: K Dalgleish J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Sir Ottoman (5/2), Kroy (3/1), Skyva (13/2), Duke Cosimo (7/1), Insurplus (8/1), Johnny Cavagin (8/1), Avenue Of Stars (9/1), Broken Wings (12/1), Peachey Carnehan (16/1), Black Hambleton (16/1), Yorkshire Pudding (25/1), Sunnyside Lady (40/1), Hit The Lights (125/1), Cliff Bay (200/1)

Fine margins separate plenty of these runners including the C&D foes Kroy and Skyva, so not the type of race for displaying firm or bold opinions. Both of those horses could and probably should be on the premises along with the likes of Duke Cosimo and Black Hambleton, but a tentative vote is for INSURPLUS. Although his rider Corey Madden has relatively little in the way of experience in the saddle, his 7lb claim is welcomed on this stamina proven 7f winner, who should be finishing off his race strongly granted a solid early gallop.