13:30 Newcastle

Saturday 6 April 2019

All13:3014:0514:4015:2015:5516:3017:00

Vertem Investing For The Future Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 5m 8.9s

Mah Mate Bob^h²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 101

4/1

Gradual improvement this season and followed career-best C&D second with first ever success at Sedgefield next time out. Up 7lb now so stakes raised but arrives in good order so is respected.

Form: 584421

Summer Lightening²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: C R King| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 100

66/1

Never built on debut bumper success for Kenneth Slack but starter out for this yard with fair third here on heavy ground in novice company. Combination of first handicap and first time beyond 2m offer optimism.

Form: 1-95063

Sultans Hero^p⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Joe Williamson⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 99

100/1

At least 200/1 in all three novice hurdles so no surprise he made little to no impact. Moves into a handicap now which may suit a little better but hard to find positives otherwise.

Form: 60769

Bullion¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 96

25/1

Showed little in three novice hurdles at Kelso before being beaten 19L there in opening handicap as he finished sixth of eight. 3lb lower for this but not enough to recommend him.

Form: 35-6576

Skyhill³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 94WS

40/1

Early promise of this former point-to-pointer seemingly petered out as shown latest when he pulled up in a novices handicap. Wind-op since offers hope of a revival but probably better over further anyway.

Form: 2P350P

Bingo D'Olivate²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 94| BF

4/1

Returned from spell chasing last term to win first start of this year at Ayr back over hurdles (2m3½f) on heavy ground. Fair third latest at Carlisle on same ground among the best recent form and boasts strong claims here.

Form: FF6-163

Seapoint¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 91

16/1

25-race maiden has never placed in her undistinguished career and could only finish midfield latest after one of her better efforts here the time before. Hard to be confident.

Form: 000046

Lastin' Memories^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 91| CD

9/2

Gained first career win in December over C&D and remained in good order since. Second here again last time out behind a good winner. Same mark once again and looks sure to make a bold bid.

Form: 81F432

Wild Sam^p1¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 91

9/1

16-race maiden placed five times when trained in Ireland but showed little of that spark in tow starts since moving to this yard. First-time cheek pieces added but hard to be confident.

Form: 3-60097

Schlipf²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: D Bourke| OR: 90

33/1

Showed minor ability on a few occasions without seriously threatening. Well beaten fourth at Sedgefield latest gives him a good bit to find here and can race very keenly.

Form: 3349-P4

Gatacre Street¹⁰⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 89

18/1

Placed twice in point-to-points but well held in novice hurdles at Southwell and Catterick in December. Handicap here may suit better but not seen any evidence to be confident.

Form: 53P3-50

Watching Over^p1²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Ross Chapman| T: G Boanas| OR: 87

100/1

Five race maiden was tailed off in first two hurdles before pulling up latest. Can only be watched on first handicap try.

Form: 4859P

Ex S'elance^p⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 85

3/1

Ploughed through the soft ground when winning a 2m1f+ claimer at Vichy in May 2018 but has toiled since joining Micky Hammond (0-7); has fallen 38lb in the weights during that period. Latest 11th of 12 another disappointment.

Form: 667960

L'attendue¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: P A Kirby| OR: 81

9/1

Hadn't showed a great deal to suggest she would be winning at Sedgefield last time but that was exactly what she did, making most of the running to score by 3¾L. Upped 6lb here and concerns about genuine soft ground but respected.

Form: 4P-07P1

Madam Scully^t1³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Callum Bewley| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 79

100/1

Tailed off in last two bumpers and all three novice hurdles. First handicap here and wears a tongue-tie. Can only be watched.

Form: 7-80669

Non-Runners

Cully Mac¹³¹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 8

T: A Wilson J: Billy Garritty

Forecasts

Ex S'elance (3/1), Mah Mate Bob (4/1), Bingo D'Olivate (4/1), Lastin' Memories (9/2), Wild Sam (9/1), L'attendue (9/1), Seapoint (16/1), Gatacre Street (18/1), Bullion (25/1), Cully Mac (25/1), Schlipf (33/1), Skyhill (40/1), Summer Lightening (66/1), Madam Scully (100/1), Sultans Hero (100/1), Watching Over (100/1)

A weak contest with only a handful of likable contenders can go the way of LASTIN' MEMORIES who always seems to run well here as shown with his December win and recent second. Bingo D'Olivate has been running well this season and looks a big danger especially of conditions get really testing. L'attendue can go well again although opposite to Bingo D'Olivate she will be better suited if the ground dries out.