18:15 Newcastle
Thursday 28 February 2019
All16:0516:4017:1017:4518:1518:4519:15
sunracing.co.uk Handicap
- 4YO plus  |  Class 4  |  7f 14y  |  Standard / Slow  |  9 Runners  |  Allweather  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 18:15Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 1m 27.6s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Three-time 6f turf winner with a thoroughly honest and willing attitude; probably high enough in the weights for his comeback run over an arguably less suitable trip; yet to win on the AW (0-3).
C&D standing dish (a four-time winner); 1lb higher than when finishing ½L second to Custard the Dragon latest; plenty of substance to his earlier form with his C&D win on January 12th yielding subsequent AW winners galore.
A regular at this track and knows how to win races (6f-7f); just about recorded a career best effort when beaten ½L by Equiano Springs over 6f here recently, proving that he's capable in this grade (Cl 4); maybe not quite so effective at this trip.
Dual C&D winner (from slightly lower handicap marks); started 2/1f on his most recent outing here in January when finishing fourth (behind tonight's rival Portledge); not discounted but equally not the standout default position either.
Bought out of the Richard Hughes yard for 5,000gns earlier this month; finished a staying on third to Gabrial The Tiger (off this mark) on stable debut at Wolverhampton (7f) last week.
Renews rivalry with his January C&D conqueror Portledge on 4lb better terms (for 1L), with that form being franked since by both Helovaplan and Call Out Loud; surface (Fibresand) and other valid excuses latest.
In contention until late on when finishing a respectable fourth to Blame Culture at Wolverhampton (7f) last week; more to do on the balance of things in order to win this race but should find a suitable opportunity sooner or later.
Almost certainly will break his duck on the AW eventually; more like it when chasing home a couple of stronger rivals (Chosen World and Porrima) over C&D last week; likely to have to settle for minor honours at best.
Helmet filly who has left the care of Mark Johnston since her last start at Wolverhampton (6f) in November; lightly-raced and unexposed on the AW; possible that she'll make her mark for new connections in the future.
Forecasts
Portledge (3/1), Athollblair Boy (4/1), Esprit De Corps (11/2), Mr Minerals (6/1), Deansgate (6/1), Big Les (11/1), Luis Vaz De Torres (12/1), Dirchill (20/1), Tarnhelm (200/1)
A number of Newcastle regulars lock horns with the likes of PORTLEDGE, Athollblair Boy and Deansgate having covered almost as many miles at Gosforth Park as the resident Clerk of The Course James Armstrong. The handicapper is making life increasingly tough for the James Bethell-trained runner (closely matched with Luis Vaz De Torres) but such was the strength in-depth behind on his latest C&D win on January 12th, it's difficult to argue with the assessor. That race has yielded a couple of subsequent AW winners in the shape of Helovaplan (third) and Call Out Loud (fourth).
- Portledge
- Esprit De Corps
- Athollblair Boy
Prize Money
1st: £5,013.002nd: £1,492.003rd: £746.004th: £373.00
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