19:45 Newcastle

Tuesday 22 January 2019

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

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 19:48 | Winning time: 1m 12.62s

(5)

Kentuckyconnection^p¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Harry Russell⁽⁷⁾| T: B Smart| OR: 66

12/1

Has visited the winners enclosure just once in 25 starts (on debut); sliding down the weights and drops into a Class 6 contest for the first time; finished just under 4L fourth of eight to Athollblair Boy (Duke Cosimo second) over C&D recently.

Form: 05809-4

(6)

Bobby Joe Leg^b1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 66| CD

15/2

In and out performer; remains feasibly treated from a mark off 66 and could possibly be suited by the introduction of blinkers; 1-1 over this C&D (33/1 winner on debut).

Form: 80207-5

(11)

Smugglers Creek^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: J Fanning| T: I Jardine| OR: 66| C

7/1

Found life tough against Rey Loopy and co in a Class 5 contest here (7f) latest. However, he showed up prominently from the outset there and could fare better now dropped in trip (and eased in grade); 2lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 73971-4

(8)

Epeius⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: A Mullen| T: B Haslam| OR: 65| CD

9/2

Ran well over C&D from a similar mark when beaten ½L by Lucky Lodge; never involved on Fibresand at Southwell latest; no surprise if he figures fairly prominently at the finish.

Form: 468627-

(9)

Duke Cosimo¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: M Herrington| OR: 65| CD

13/2

Continuing to climb in the weights but is a thoroughly likeable type; beaten a fast diminishing short-head by Athollblair Boy (Avenue Of Stars third) over C&D recently; live contender now dropped back into a Class 6 handicap.

Form: 35217-2

(10)

Rock Warbler¹¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 64| BF| CD

10/1

Has left Oliver Greenall since his last racecourse appearance in September; a four-time course winner (6f-1m) who was struggling for form throughout much of 2018; hopes seemingly pinned on a change of scenery proving beneficial.

Form: 345546-

(12)

My Name Is Rio¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: Barry McHugh| T: J J Davies| OR: 63| D

25/1

Falling in the weights but that is largely because of his poor form; no win since June 2017 (5f), so one must question whether or not he still has the appetite for the racing game at the age of nine.

Form: 00995-7

(2)

Johnny Cavagin¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 9-5| J: G Lee| T: P T Midgley| OR: 63| D

14/1

Vastly experienced sprinter who historically has proved more effective on turf (8-50) than on the AW (1-16); still early days in the care of Paul Midgley, albeit looks held by Duke Cosimo, Avenue of Stars and to a lesser degree Kentuckyconnection.

Form: 47596-5

(7)

Rizzle Dizzle¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: S Donohoe| T: R Menzies| OR: 62

12/1

Didn't appear to train on as a 3yo for Karl Burke and was sold at a basement price of £600 in July 2018; ran reasonably well on belated stable debut (50/1) in a Class 5 fillies' handicap at Wolverhampton (7f) 15-days ago.

Form: 24/980-6

(13)

Avenue Of Stars^v¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Hart| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 61| CD

9/2

Holding his form fairly well, albeit was back-peddling from the furlong pole when finishing just over 3L third to Athollblair Boy (Duke Cosimo a short-head second) over C&D latest; place claims - more required for win purposes.

Form: 70402-3

(1)

Dubai Elegance¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mathers| T: D Shaw| OR: 60| D

50/1

6f Chelmsford maiden winner for Saeed Bin Suroor in October 2016 but has totally lost the plot since joining Derek Shaw; impossible to build any sort of case for other than to point out her free-falling handicap mark (once 81-rated).

Form: 446/0-96

(4)

Broken Wings^v⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: L Morris| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 54

50/1

17-race maiden (0-12 on the AW); heavily eased when beaten at Southwell (7f) latest; realistically can't be considered just nine days later; look elsewhere.

Form: 0058-40

(3)

Soldier Blue^v¹⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 52| BF

16/1

Ex Godolphin (Charlie Appleby); has seemingly had plenty of chances since joining this yard for £18,000 in May 2017, but off the track for six months since finishing second to Ingleby Molly at Wolverhampton (6f) in July; consult market for clues.

Form: 645772-

Forecasts

Avenue Of Stars (9/2), Epeius (9/2), Duke Cosimo (13/2), Smugglers Creek (7/1), Bobby Joe Leg (15/2), Rock Warbler (10/1), Kentuckyconnection (12/1), Rizzle Dizzle (12/1), Johnny Cavagin (14/1), Soldier Blue (16/1), My Name Is Rio (25/1), Broken Wings (50/1), Dubai Elegance (50/1)

Strong in terms of numbers but less so in terms of likely winners. A drop back in trip (and grade) could see Smugglers Creek go close for Carrutherstown handler Iain Jardine and any signs of sustained market support would be interesting in relation to the returning and lowly-weighted Soldier Blue. However, the C&D Class 5 form line from January 12th featuring DUKE COSIMO (second), Avenue Of Stars (third), Kentuckyconnection (fourth) and Johnny Cavagin (fifth) is as good a guide as any. Despite climbing a further 3lb in the weights, if delivered late by Phil Dennis, the Duke can win again and move up and beyond Class 6 company.