17:45 Newcastle

Thursday 28 February 2019

All16:0516:4017:1017:4518:1518:4519:15

Ladbrokes Fillies' Handicap

Off time: 17:45 | Winning time: 1m 40.51s

(1)

Treasure Me^p¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 82

15/8

Runner-up off this mark on both of her last two starts, including when beaten 1¼L by the re-opposing Toy Theatre at Kempton (7f) 12-days ago; a 4lb switch in the weights should bring the pair closer together.

Form: 1103-22

(3)

Toy Theatre¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 80

2/1

Shock 20/1 comeback winner at Kempton 12-days ago beating the re-opposing Treasure Me by 1¼L; a 4lb rise in the weights will make life tougher and should bring the pair closer together.

Form: 34326-1

(4)

Alexandrakollontai^b¹¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 78| CD

25/1

At her strongest over a mile and was a surprise 33/1 winner over C&D in September; given time off following a below-par showing in November and far from punitively handicapped off this mark if able to regain her 'mojo'.

Form: 160140-

(5)

Mama Africa³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fanning| T: T D Barron| OR: 75| D

5/1

Has become a regular feature on the Fibresand at Southwell since winning back-to-back races (7f-1m) in late 2017; slowly running into form and stuck to her task well when chasing home a stablemate of Toy Theatre (Side Effect) over this trip latest.

Form: 2675-32

(6)

Beatbybeatbybeat^v²⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 74| D

12/1

Broke a spell of placed efforts when comfortably seeing off Sicario over an extended 1m1f at Wolverhampton in August; off since, up 8lb in the weights and into a Class 3 (from a Class 6), so this race represents a tough task.

Form: 523221-

(2)

Ventura Blues^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Rossa Ryan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 74| D

15/2

Unable to justify evens favouritism in a 6f Lingfield claimer in January (& left the care of Richard Hannon thereafter); more effective back over this trip since, but equally others rate as far more appealing.

Form: 45-9444

(7)

Just Heather^v²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Nathan Evans| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 45

200/1

21-race maiden with an official rating of just 29; needs divine intervention from miles outside of the handicap proper; holds no chance whatsoever.

Form: 8000-08

Forecasts

Treasure Me (15/8), Toy Theatre (2/1), Mama Africa (5/1), Ventura Blues (15/2), Beatbybeatbybeat (12/1), Alexandrakollontai (25/1), Just Heather (200/1)

Much will depend upon who handles the step up in trip (to 1m) best between the re-opposing Kempton rivals Toy Theatre and Treasure Me, with a marginal preference for the top-weight on 4lb better terms. However, we'll take a chance on the versatility of the Fibresand regular MAMA AFRICA. David Barron's mare has taken a couple of races to reach her peak form but there was plenty to like about the attitude that she displayed in vainly sticking to her task behind the Mick Appleby-trained Side Effect five-weeks ago, and she should have no problems whatsoever in terms of stamina reserves over this more demanding straight mile.