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14:50 Newcastle

Tuesday 15 January 2019

All12:4513:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:50

Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Novices' Handicap Hurdle

  • 4YO plus  |   Class 4  |   2m 98y  |   Good to Soft (Good in places)  |   10 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 14:51  |   Winning time: 4m 4.5s
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1
Horse silk
Dark Ruler13
Age: 10|  Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: J Ward| OR:  107
7/1
Four-time Flat winner (at 1m1f-1m2f); consistent, if unspectacular since switched late to hurdling; finished 11¾L fifth of 12 to Whoshotthesheriff at Ayr (2m, soft) 13-days ago.
2
Horse silk
Tim Roccoh1,t32
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-12| J: R T Dunne| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR:  107
12/1
Former German Flat racer who hasn't looked to be an obvious future hurdles winner for Oliver Greenall (0-3); hood applied for the first time on handicap debut.
3
Horse silk
Empire De Maulde37
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-10| J: Steven Fox(5)| T: J Ewart| OR:  105
5/1
4-6 in French bumpers (1m1f-1m4f) prior to joining James Ewart and made the frame over C&D on his penultimate start when beaten in excess of 10L by Weather Front; far less effective on handicap bow latest; must bounce back.
4
Horse silk
Imperial Focusp8
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-9| J: Grant Cockburn(3)| T: S Waugh| OR:  104
13/2
17-race maiden on the Flat and now 0-5 over hurdles; excelled himself when finishing a close up fourth to Wot A Shot at Musselburgh (2m, good) last week, albeit possibly flattered by that showing.
5
Horse silk
Emissaire30
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-8| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR:  103
10/1
Won his bumper in the mud at Ayr (1m5f+) on debut in November 2017; hasn't progressed since, although didn't run badly behind the talented Buster Valentine at Ayr (2m maiden, heavy) in November 2018; market a guide on handicap debut
6
Horse silk
Eagle Ridget17
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-7| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR:  102
12/1
Has struggled to make an impression in heavy winter ground since switched to the care of Nick Alexander; no significant progress in newly applied tongue-tie at Kelso latest (2m6f+); dropped 5lb, down in trip on ground which could suit.
7
Horse silk
Friends In Heaven238
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-4| J: R D Day| T: A Wilson| OR:  99
40/1
Poor under rules so far; returns to action from a 238-day absence and straight into a low-level handicap (debut); can't be considered as a likely winner unless the market speaks favourably.
8
Horse silk
Murchison Riverp,t33
Age: 5|  Weight: 10-13| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR:  94| BF| D
9/4
Flat winner for Henry Candy in 2017 who has taken time to find his feet over hurdles for current connections; went close to following up his December Leicester win (2m, good to firm) when beaten just under 3L by Lastin' Memories here (2m4f) latest.
9
Horse silk
Farlam Kingt67
Age: 6|  Weight: 10-0| J: B S Hughes| T: M A Barnes| OR:  81
4/1
Sent off at massive prices on all five hurdles starts so far, including when finishing eighth of 14 at Hexham (2m, good) in November; clearly not the solution despite the presence of Brian Hughes in the saddle.
10
Horse silk
Rapid Fritzt33
Age: 10|  Weight: 10-0| J: Philip Armson(7)| T: V Thompson| OR:  63
100/1
34-race maiden (0-25 over hurdles) who holds no conceivable chance from miles outside of the handicap; look elsewhere with immense confidence.

Forecasts

Murchison River (9/4), Farlam King (4/1), Empire De Maulde (5/1), Imperial Focus (13/2), Dark Ruler (7/1), Emissaire (10/1), Tim Rocco (12/1), Eagle Ridge (12/1), Friends In Heaven (40/1), Rapid Fritz (100/1)

Verdict

Another modest contest which with respect to all of those involved isn't really befitting of a Grade 1 jumps track. Murchison River is the form pick after going close in a similar contest here in December, and with the Sam England team among the winners at Kelso on Sunday (Choochoobugaloo) rates as a worthy favourite now dropped back in trip. However, we'll seek some each-way value with the Nick Alexander-trained EAGLE RIDGE. We've not witnessed the best of this 8yo on deep winter ground, but with the benefit of a seasonal reappearance at Kelso banked, a drop back in trip and a slow ease in the weights (5lb), he's a horse of some interest in a very poor race.
  1. Eagle Ridge
  2. Murchison River
  3. Dark Ruler

Prize Money

1st: £4,094.002nd: £1,202.003rd: £601.004th: £350.005th: £350.006th: £350.007th: £350.008th: £350.00

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