15:55 Newcastle

Thursday 17 January 2019

All15:5516:2516:5517:2517:5518:2518:5519:25

Play 4 To Score At Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:56 | Winning time: 2m 45.13s

(8)

Elysees Palace^p1¹¹^{(ex 6)}

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 74| C

7/4

Very lightly raced sort but well placed by shrewd trainer to win last three including latest start here over 1m2f after 247 days off beating Dommersen. 6lb penalty makes confirming placings harder but longer trip and cheekpieces offer optimism.

Form: 4/411-1

(5)

Dommersen¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Ben Sanderson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 77

7/2

Never recaptured smart 2016 form after 574 day absence but latest second to Elysees Palace here over 1m2f arguably best run since that absence. Quick turnaround so avoids penalty and major chance with longer trip no issue.

Form: 00606-2

(10)

Starplex^t1¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-13| J: G Lee| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 77| D

25/1

Three-time winner for Keith Dalgleish showed very little in four starts for this yard including one here. Very hard to fancy at present.

Form: 814450-

(11)

Abel Tasman²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: E J Walsh| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 76

20/1

Seemed to stay 1m4f in 2017 but raced exclusively at 1m-1m2f in 2018 for Ed Walker winning once. Last of 13 on stable debut at Wolverhampton over 1m1½f saw him beaten 22L so not easy to fancy now.

Form: 323450-

(3)

Paris Protocol^p²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Jason Hart| T: M Walford| OR: 74

20/1

Two-year-old winner for Richard Hannon but not scored since. Returned from a spell hurdling with two modest efforts here including latest C&D eighth of 12. Mark tumbling but others appeal more.

Form: 3554/08-

(12)

Kyoto Star²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: R Havlin| T: H Spiller| OR: 72| CD

10/1

28/1 C&D novice win two starts back came completely out the blue. Upped to 2m for handicap debut next he seemed a non-stayer but back over this trip he is of interest given highly unexposed nature so certainly merits respect.

Form: 0/617-

(9)

Glan Y Gors^p¹¹^{(ex 6)}

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: C Lee| T: D Thompson| OR: 65| CD

6/1

Seems revived since switching to this yard and track. Built on promising efforts latest to win a C&D handicap, his first win in nearly four years. Only 1lb higher here so again has to be highly respected.

Form: 2/9052-1

(7)

Thawry⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 71

20/1

Ex-French trained gelding struggled on the whole since joining this yard although he has a second on his card (four-runner race beaten 11L). Longer trip and lower mark offer some optimism but safer bets elsewhere.

Form: 443629-

(2)

Confederate^b1,t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: P J McDonald| T: H Palmer| OR: 69

12/1

Moderate appeal in three novice events without ever truly threatening. Tailed off latest upped to 2m on handicap debut but this should suit better and addition of first-time blinkers might help.

Form: 657-9

(4)

Apache Blaze⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: A Mullen| T: R Brisland| OR: 65

20/1

1m2f turf winner in April looked a suspicious stayer of 1m4f in two of her three tries over the trip including latest so this extended 1m4f is far from certain to suit and in any case her form looks short of the required.

Form: 135440-

(1)

Stanarley Pic⁴⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 58| D

20/1

1m6f winner in August 2017 returns here after 15 months off the track and for new connections. Fully understandable if he needs the run here so best watched for future endeavours.

Form: 741268/

(6)

Brokopondo⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: C Cannon| OR: 53| D

12/1

Five-time winner in Ireland including three at Dundalk so surface for stable bow should suit. Placed only once in 12 2018 starts so new yard has work on their hands especially here from out of the handicap by 7lb.

Form: 072759-

Forecasts

Elysees Palace (7/4), Dommersen (7/2), Glan Y Gors (6/1), Kyoto Star (10/1), Confederate (12/1), Brokopondo (12/1), Thawry (20/1), Apache Blaze (20/1), Paris Protocol (20/1), Stanarley Pic (20/1), Abel Tasman (20/1), Starplex (25/1)

DOMMERSEN is weighted to turn the tables on Elysees Palace here having only been beaten ¾L by that rival and now 6lb better off with the latter's penalty for that success so he gets the nod with both expected to be as effective over this longer trip.. Sir Mark Prescott is notoriously good at placing those he sees as ahead of the handicapper so it wouldn't be a great surprise if Elysees Palace improves again however. Glan Y Gors has been revived since joining David Thompson and should go well again having only been raised 1lb for his C&D success latest.