14:50 Newcastle

Tuesday 15 January 2019

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

Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:51 | Winning time: 4m 4.5s

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Selected odds by:

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.

Form: 23P5

Tim Rocco^h1,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.

Form: 070

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.

Form: 1144-37

Imperial Focus^p⁸

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.

Form: 42384

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

Form: 170-534

Eagle Ridge^t¹⁷

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.

Form: 2673P-7

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.

Form: P/20-80

Murchison River^p,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.

Form: 407012

Farlam King^t⁶⁷

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.

Form: 00688

Rapid Fritz^t³³

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.

Form: 5FFF86

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)

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.