19:15 Newcastle

Wednesday 2 January 2019

All15:3516:1016:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:15

Betway Sprint Handicap

Off time: 19:16 | Winning time: 59.80s

(2)

Bahango^p³³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: P Morris| OR: 57| CD

9/1

Not much to shout about on recent efforts at this track, but is undeniably well handicapped. Interesting if the market speaks in his favour.

Form: 70/0079-

(8)

Poppy In The Wind^v¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: A D Brown| OR: 57| CD

5/1

Has not been successful for over a year, but is a C&D winner who has slipped down to a mark 9lb lower than for that most recent victory. Recent efforts have been ordinary, however.

Form: 087059-

(5)

Funkadelic^p²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: A Mullen| T: B Haslam| OR: 54| D

12/1

Down the field in a C&D handicap last month and is only 2lb lower. Summer turf form gives him hope, but he needs to up his game.

Form: 585330-

(9)

Queen Of Kalahari^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J Mitchell| T: J L Eyre| OR: 54| D

7/2

Not disgraced over 6f at this venue last month. Has dropped 1lb, but needs to show she is effective at the minimum trip.

Form: 574895-

(10)

Windforpower^v¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Barry McHugh| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 53| CD

9/2

Experienced campaigner who is a regular at this track. Not at his best on recent starts, but has slipped to an attractive mark.

Form: 240474-

(4)

Star Cracker^p¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: E J Walsh⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 51| CD

6/1

Scored narrowly over C&D in November and is only 2lb higher. That said, he needs to improve considerably on his latest effort last month.

Form: 201638-

(3)

Fuel Injection^p¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 50| CD

14/1

Has winning form over C&D, but last two efforts at this track have been only fair. Needs to show more, but handicap mark is on the way down.

Form: U88947-

(1)

Novabridge^b²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 8-11| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: K Tutty| OR: 47| CD

20/1

Veteran sprinter who boasts a good record at this venue. Not at his best last time, but return to form off this mark cannot be ruled out.

Form: 713559-

(7)

Encoded³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: J Fanning| T: Miss L C Siddall| OR: 45

9/1

Still looking for her first win after 15 races, eight of them on the AW. Others make greater appeal.

Form: 370478-

(6)

Camanche Grey¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Nathan Evans| T: L Egerton| OR: 45| D

33/1

Sent off at big prices and has been well held on recent starts. Handicap rating continues to fall, but he is hard to fancy.

Form: 036009-

Forecasts

Queen Of Kalahari (7/2), Windforpower (9/2), Poppy In The Wind (5/1), Star Cracker (6/1), Encoded (9/1), Bahango (9/1), Funkadelic (12/1), Fuel Injection (14/1), Novabridge (20/1), Camanche Grey (33/1)

None of these are at the top of their game at present so it is only on the basis of an eyecatching handicap mark that POPPY IN THE WIND gets the vote. Similar sentiments apply to Bahango and Windforpower, while others who may get involved include Novabridge and Star Cracker.