15:50 Newcastle

Tuesday 15 January 2019

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

Border Minstrel Pub Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 5m 40.90s

Dark And Dangerous^p¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Amie Waugh⁽³⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 93

14/1

Strongest at Sedgefield - a four-time winner there over 2m1f; falling down the weights to a more attractive mark although surely rates as vulnerable over this 2m6f trip.

Form: 6249-68

Allduckornodinner¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Miss E J Sweeney⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 92

7/2

Irish raider who enjoyed a hectic festive period, winning over fences (2m4f) at Down Royal on Boxing Day and running well enough over an extended 2m5f at Tramore on New Years Day; 0-7 over hurdles.

Form: 60-0715

Wig Wam Wiggle¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss Becky Smith| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 88

5/1

Well backed when landing a gamble at Hexham (2m4f, heavy) in November 2017; off for 13-months thereafter and well beaten on both subsequent starts for new owners Jennifer Hill and Samantha Toomes.

Form: 8791-6P

Birch Bank⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 83WS

20/1

Seven-race maiden (0-5 over timber); has had wind surgery since pulling up at Southwell in December (2m4f+), so all hopes for a positive racing future seemingly rest upon the outcome of that operation.

Form: 86635-P

Noble Call^t³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Kit Alexander| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 81

40/1

Very infrequent winner (2-74 career); runner-up in a Cartmel Beginners' Chase (2m5f, soft) in July 2017 and seldom seen in competitive action since; rates as highly unlikely despite a plunging hurdles handicap mark.

Form: 2/6624-P

Magic Of Milan^p,t⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr T Hamilton| T: S England| OR: 79

4/7

No superstar, but by Milan she stays well and was a comfortable winner in first-time cheekpieces at Ayr (2m5f, good to soft) last week; escapes a penalty for that conditional jockeys' win so tough to oppose in the very capable hands of Tom Hamilton.

Form: 6-60241

Sendiym²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-2| J: Aaron Anderson⁽³⁾| T: A Wilson| OR: 69

33/1

Sedgefield specialist (six-time winner at the County Durham venue) who is in a steady decline in his advancing years; difficult to be anything other than pessimistic about his chances.

Form: 77079P

Millrose Bell^p¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 67

16/1

13-race maiden who appears to be fairly short on natural ability; ran adequately over C&D here earlier in the month when finishing sixth of ten (40/1) to Petite Ganache; look elsewhere.

Form: 7-P4P96

Forecasts

Magic Of Milan (4/7), Allduckornodinner (7/2), Wig Wam Wiggle (5/1), Dark And Dangerous (14/1), Millrose Bell (16/1), Birch Bank (20/1), Sendiym (33/1), Noble Call (40/1)

Allduckornodinner is a notable first ever Newcastle runner for Navan-based trainer Gavin Cromwell, and his 9yo could be well-treated over hurdles having demonstrated improved form of late over the larger obstacles. However, it's nigh impossible to look beyond the alluring claims of Sam England's MAGIC OF MILAN. This mare is no superstar, but is a solid stayer and she reappears quickly (without a penalty) after a comfortable win at Ayr last week. Furthermore, the perfectly capable Tom Hamilton is an eye-catching jockey booking.