13:00 Newcastle

Sunday 6 January 2019

All13:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

Betway Handicap

Off time: 13:01 | Winning time: 3m 40.92s

(8)

Galileo's Spear^h,t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 67| BF

5/1

Unsuited by the drop down to 1m6f last time though ran another solid race but still a maiden on AW and vulnerable to an improver.

Form: 466423-

(6)

Shine Baby Shine¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: J Mitchell| T: P A Kirby| OR: 61| D

5/1

Badly out of sorts over hurdles of late, though does have form on the AW and may be capable of better in this sphere with trainer enjoying purple patch. Worth monitoring in the betting.

Form: 69612/1-

(7)

Grey Mist^h²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Hart| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 58| CD

5/6

Defied a 14 months absence when gamely getting the better of a bang in-form rival last month on AW debut (pair clear) when sporting a first-time hood (retained here). May have more to come for current yard and 4lb rise for that is fair.

Form: 97777/1-

(2)

Isharah^p,t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: O J Orr⁽³⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 57| CD

18/1

Last victory was off 28lb higher mark 2 years when completing a hat-trick ago but has been out of sorts for a long time and hopes rest on a return to a track where he has won twice before.

Form: 690008-

(1)

Seasearch^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lee| T: A M Balding| OR: 61

20/1

In good heart last spring at up to 1m6f (untried beyond that) and probably needed the run at Lingfield last month. Entitled to come on for that.

Form: 611220-

(9)

Highway Robber^h,t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: W Storey| OR: 49| C

12/1

Plenty of form at this venue but below par when 13L sixth behind Grey Mist and work to do to reverse form with that rival despite a 7lb pull.

Form: 216276-

(3)

Sigurd⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Barry McHugh| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 45

80/1

First run on the Flat since June 2017 but struggling over hurdles for current yard and easily passed over here.

Form: 006053/

(5)

Dizoard⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 8-10| J: J Fanning| T: I Jardine| OR: 45

22/1

Bit better when fourth over C&D in October but since then has landed a gamble in style over hurdles and that may have boosted her confidence. Could be capable of better now back on the Flat.

Form: 9/33684-

Non-Runners

(4)

Rubenesque²³

Weight: 10-3| Age: 7

T: T Davidson J: Phil Dennis

Forecasts

Grey Mist (5/6), Shine Baby Shine (5/1), Galileo's Spear (5/1), Rubenesque (5/1), Highway Robber (12/1), Isharah (18/1), Seasearch (20/1), Dizoard (22/1), Sigurd (80/1)

GREY MIST put in a much improved effort here last month after a long break and providing this doesn't come too soon, he can defy the small rise. With the recent comeback run under his belt Seasearch is entitled to return to form with Dizoard of interest if her win over hurdles can be repeated.