19:15 Newcastle

Tuesday 22 January 2019

All16:1016:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:45

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Off time: 19:16 | Winning time: 1m 27.77s

(3)

Dirchill²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Hart| T: D Thompson| OR: 74

11/2

Three-time 6f winner for former trainer David Barron (sold for £9,000 in September 2018); running consistently well of late over C&D for in-form trainer David Thompson - closely matched with Harvest Day.

Form: 88873-3

(7)

Mudawwan^p,t⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: J D Bethell| OR: 72| CD

11/2

C&D winner from a 2lb lower mark in September (beat Im Dapper Too by a head); disappointing next time when the tongue-tie was left off (over 1m); boasts a 33% AW strike-rate (2-6).

Form: 050010-

(4)

Newmarket Warrior^p¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: T Hamilton| T: I Jardine| OR: 69| C

14/1

Newcastle regular; needs to be produced as late as possible and as a result is difficult to win with; making his first start over 7f since June 2017 after finishing 4½L fourth to Paparazzi over 1m here 10-days ago.

Form: 5552-34

(1)

Briyouni¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: R M Beckett| OR: 68| D

7/2

Landed a sizeable gamble when winning at Kempton in November (7f) and returned to that track to beat Cashel by 1¼L a fortnight ago; a further 5lb higher in the weights but still well treated on his form of old if handling the switch to Tapeta.

Form: 78714-1

(8)

Harvest Day^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 68| D

7/2

More than capable from her current mark (68) and has twice finished runner-up over C&D since early November, including latest when beaten just over 2L by Rey Loopy (Dirchill a close-up third).

Form: 84278-2

(5)

The British Lion³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 68| CD

15/2

Below-par since scoring over C&D (Class 4) nearly 12 months ago; continues to slide in the weights and now 5lb below his last winning mark; weakened from the furlong pole when finishing ninth of 11 to Chosen World over C&D in December.

Form: 585569-

(2)

Dream Mount^b,e/s³²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: G Lee| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 65

14/1

Won a Lingfield maiden for Marco Botti but has failed to win in nine subsequent AW starts. New headgear combination saw him to slightly better effect last time; dropped a further 2lb in the weights.

Form: 268704-

(6)

Elixsoft²³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: L Morris| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 65| CD

33/1

Absent since competing on turf at Nottingham and Ripon in May 2018 but proved herself as fully effective over C&D last winter (1,3,2,2); her handicap mark of 62 is feasible but it'll come as a surprise if she's fit enough to win off a 237-day break.

Form: 132255-

(9)

Gun Case^v³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Barry McHugh| T: A C Whillans| OR: 63| CD

8/1

Newcastle regular who is generally there or thereabouts yet has failed to hit the target since scoring off this mark in August 2018; a strong early pace would boost his chances and should that scenario develop, he would rate as the in-running play.

Form: 247934-

Forecasts

Harvest Day (7/2), Briyouni (7/2), Mudawwan (11/2), Dirchill (11/2), The British Lion (15/2), Gun Case (8/1), Newmarket Warrior (14/1), Dream Mount (14/1), Elixsoft (33/1)

BRIYOUNI must prove himself away from Kempton Park but there's no denying that he's still attractively weighted based on his peak form of old and he arrives in rude health. Assuming that the switch to Tapeta isn't a major stumbling block (has run here once previously for Kevin Ryan) he should prove capable of winning again against a host of 7f Newcastle regulars, who although largely consistent aren't necessarily overly progressive. Dirchill looks the main danger for in-form County Durham trainer David Thompson.