19:15 Newcastle

Friday 25 January 2019

All16:1516:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:45

Betway Sprint Handicap

Off time: 19:16 | Winning time: 1m 1.36s

(8)

Archimedes^p,t⁸^{(ex 6)}

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: R Winston| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 61| CD

11/4

Seeking a C&D hat-trick here after winning his first two starts at this course. Carries a 6lb penalty here which makes life tougher considering he's only due to go up 2lb. That said in current form he can't be ignored.

Form: 554-611

(9)

Spirit Power⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Jason Hart| T: E J Alston| OR: 58| D

9/2

Gained first career success last time out when winning quite comfortably at Kempton under hands and heels. Carries a 6lb penalty for that so 2lb wrong at the weights here but certainly has claims given manner of the success.

Form: 000-581

(10)

Cherry Oak¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: B Haslam| OR: 58| CD

6/1

March C&D winner has largely been competitive since without success. 3L sixth to Archimedes last time out but 9lb better off today so could turn that around and certainly should get an awful lot closer.

Form: 47335-6

(1)

Hula Girl^b⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Shepherd| T: C Hills| OR: 56

11/1

Long standing maiden but only beaten 1L into third at Lingfield last time out off this mark. Ran well her in the past so switch to Tapeta no issue and certainly remains competitive off this mark.

Form: 34084-3

(5)

Poppy In The Wind^b¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: A Mullen| T: A D Brown| OR: 54| BF| CD

10/1

Over a year since last win but handicap now definitely in range and made favourite for latest start when behind Archimedes although couldn't recover from a slow start. Such starts an ongoing issue but capable if pieces drop for her.

Form: 7059-38

(11)

Gorgeous General¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 49| D

9/1

Gained first career success latest when landing a small field Southwell handicap. Midfield here the time before off 1lb lower and that would be more accurate representation of chances here.

Form: 74335-1

(2)

Encoded¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: J Fanning| T: Miss L C Siddall| OR: 48| CD

9/1

C&D winner was third to Archimedes last time out under a penalty. 3lb lower this time around and therefore 9lb better off with aforementioned. Small string trainer in notably good form and that could well continue here.

Form: 0478-13

(6)

Novabridge^b¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 8-10| J: Shane Gray| T: K Tutty| OR: 47| CD

14/1

Four-time C&D winner was fourth to Archimedes last time out back here off this mark. That gives him a chance at the weights although others from same race more favoured in that regard.

Form: 3559-24

(3)

Fuel Injection^b⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 47| CD

25/1

Behind a whole host of these rivals in several late 2018 starts but better effort latest when second at Wolverhampton, his best effort for some time. Must transfer that form back here but others appeal more.

Form: 947-902

(4)

Sir Walter⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Rachel Richardson| T: E J Alston| OR: 45

20/1

11-race maiden has a last of eight to Spirit Power and 11th of 12 to Archimedes on recent CV. That shows magnitude of task here.

Form: 0/98-038

(7)

Trulove⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: P Mathers| T: J Riches| OR: 45

33/1

25-race maiden has never even been placed. Eighth here last time out and anything better than that today would require best form.

Form: 48076-8

Forecasts

Archimedes (11/4), Spirit Power (9/2), Cherry Oak (6/1), Gorgeous General (9/1), Encoded (9/1), Poppy In The Wind (10/1), Hula Girl (11/1), Novabridge (14/1), Sir Walter (20/1), Fuel Injection (25/1), Trulove (33/1)

A whole host of these are tied in with Archimedes having run behind him last time out. David Griffiths' hat-trick seeker is now vulnerable under a 6lb penalty however and the most appealing to turn the tables is ENCODED who was herself under a penalty when third in the aforementioned race so now 9lb better off for 2L. Spirit Power is another with a recent success and penalty and also enters calculations with this switch in surface no obvious issue from past form .