17:55 Newcastle

Friday 29 March 2019

All17:5518:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Play 4 To Score At Betway Handicap

Off time: 17:56 | Winning time: 2m 40.9s

(2)

Champagne Rules⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S A Watt| OR: 67| CD

8/1

Previous C&D winner continued excellent run of form this winter when stepped back up to this trip latest as he finished second beaten just ½L off today's mark. Handicapper has him on a short leash but bold bid assured.

Form: 261-412

(1)

Restive^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Phil Dennis| T: J S Goldie| OR: 65| D

10/1

Best AW form mostly comes on Fibresand at Southwell and after two moderate efforts here a return to that venue/surface yielded an improved third. Back on Tapeta he is of less appeal.

Form: 945-663

(7)

Up Ten Down Two^t¹⁵⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 9-10| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 65| CD

15/2

Four-time Tapeta winner is two from four at this track. Disappointed when last seen in October over 2m but won over that trip here in the past. First time after a layoff here and suspect this trip on short side now.

Form: 741578-

(5)

Nevada^p³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: A Mullen| T: S Gollings| OR: 64

4/1

Late starter to the game has been progressing well and arrives here on the back of consecutive C&D seconds in 12 and 14 runner handicaps at this level. 1lb higher than latest but hard to envisage anything but a bold bid.

Form: 9217-22

(11)

Mont Royal¹⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mulrennan| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 61

20/1

10 races in 2018 passed without success and although handicap has tumbled during that spell he arrives here off a lengthy layoff and with limited and uninspiring AW form.

Form: 034626-

(10)

Echo^b³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 60| CD

5/2

Returned from two unfruitful efforts over hurdles with shock 33/1 C&D latest where he beat Nevada by 2L. 4lb rise not likely to prove a major obstacle if in the same vein of form and looks a leading contender.

Form: 1/0458-1

(13)

Adventureman^p¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 56| C

66/1

Finished last of 11 on his seasonal debut and again 11th (of 13) latest, both at Wolverhampton. Acts on this surface but front-running tactics compromised by wide draw.

Form: 2417-00

(9)

Nearly There^t¹⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁵⁾| T: W Storey| OR: 55

14/1

10-race maiden but placed in last three starts, all over C&D. Beaten just 1L in last two starts so can certainly go close once again if fully wound up after short break.

Form: 459332-

(3)

Splash Of Verve²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: P Mathers| T: D Thompson| OR: 50| CD

11/1

C&D winner in January was fifth behind Echo here two starts back before filling the same spot latest at Chelmsford. Only 2lb higher than win now but that a moderate class 7 and this level continues to stretch him.

Form: 02-1455

(4)

First Call^p¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: P Hanagan| T: P Morris| OR: 49| BF

11/1

Best efforts so far the last twice with back-to-back seconds at Chelmsford and Kempton staying on well in each. Changed yard since last run and certainly looks capable now with this trip likely to be about ideal.

Form: 034-022

(6)

Hugoigo³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: Corey Madden⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 45

11/1

Second to Splash Of Verve in a class 7 over C&D in January but struggled since including latest ninth of 14 here behind Echo and several others. Limited appeal.

Form: 48-3239

(8)

Judith Gardenier^p,t1⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-5| J: Gabriele Malune⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 45| D

80/1

Won on last start for Ian Jardine back in 2016 but was tailed off on sole start for Ann Duffield in August 2018. Well beaten again here last month and at present comes with plenty of risk.

Form: 5281/8-7

(12)

Midas Maggie^p³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 45

40/1

10-race maiden and has yet to offer any signs of a breakthrough success. Needs to improve to play a part but from out of the handicap that looks unlikely.

Form: 80869-8

Forecasts

Echo (5/2), Nevada (4/1), Up Ten Down Two (15/2), Champagne Rules (8/1), Restive (10/1), First Call (11/1), Splash Of Verve (11/1), Hugoigo (11/1), Nearly There (14/1), Mont Royal (20/1), Midas Maggie (40/1), Adventureman (66/1), Judith Gardenier (80/1)

Although beaten by Echo latest the vote goes to NEVADA who arrives here on the back of good C&D seconds the last twice, he is 3lb better off with his recent conqueror and that can tip the scales in his favour. Echo can't be underestimated despite that 33/1 win rather coming out of the blue and he rates chief among the dangers. Champagne Rules never runs a bad race and even off this, his highest mark for some time he ran well over C&D latest.