15:20 Newcastle

Saturday 6 April 2019

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

Think Smart At Vertem Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:22 | Winning time: 6m 14.2s

Casual Cavalier^p²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁷⁾| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 113| C

9/2

Won two of four starts so far this yard, both on heavy. Latest win over 2m4f here impressive and although he stayed strongly this will be farthest he's ever tackled at this relatively late stage of career.

Form: 7-41421

Very First Time^b²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 111| CD

4/1

C&D winner last season and although he's 0-8 since the fact he's now 13lb lower makes him very interesting. Ran well for a long way latest over 4m but probably didn't stay. Suspect we might just see a revival of fortunes here.

Form: 0-57657

Knocknamona⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 109| C

14/1

In fantastic form last winter and won for first time this season on soft ground at Carlisle in February. Disappointed next but that back over hurdled. Chasing form overall more appealing and softer the ground the better.

Form: 622415

Loch Linnhe^p³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Ross Chapman| T: G Boanas| OR: 108| BF| C

13/2

Won over fences at Hexham last May and off a 2lb higher mark for previous connections. Less inspiring this season for this yard although over hurdles. Perhaps return to chasing and spring time can revive him.

Form: 363243

Carrigdhoun^t³⁴

Age: 14| Weight: 11-4| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 107| D

25/1

Over two years now since this admirable 14-year-old last won and unfortunately suggest he will probably not be winning again based on recent evidence.

Form: 63677P

Inchcolm³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: T Davidson| OR: 107

5/1

Having an incredible season having won four times (three chase, one hurdle) and ran well latest when third at Sedgefield off this new career-high mark. Handicapper may now have caught up but still can make a bold bid.

Form: 111U13

Iskabeg Lane¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 106

9/2

Dual Market Rasen winner including last time out where he stayed on strongly to score. Only upped 3lb but past form suggests he's a few lbs better at Market Rasen than anywhere else so await his return there.

Form: 343221

No No Mac^p,t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: I A Duncan| OR: 103

12/1

3m win at Musselburgh last month his first for this yard and since early 2017. Up 4lb for that relatively narrow success so suspect this will prove tougher.

Form: 770361

Purple Harry^t¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Callum Bewley| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 87| C| D

8/1

11L Carlisle win at 12/1 latest rather came out of the blue as his first in two years and on the back of pulling up at Hexham. Upped 8lb which is in effect 10lb with his long handicap mark. Tough ask to follow up.

Form: 24-58P1

Non-Runners

Newberry New²¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: H Bethell J: C R King

Onderun¹³

Weight: 10-0| Age: 10

T: G Bewley J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Newberry New (7/2), Very First Time (4/1), Casual Cavalier (9/2), Iskabeg Lane (9/2), Inchcolm (5/1), Loch Linnhe (13/2), Purple Harry (8/1), No No Mac (12/1), Knocknamona (14/1), Onderun (20/1), Carrigdhoun (25/1)

A tough contest this with several of these recent winners now facing higher marks. A chance is taken on Tim Easterby's VERY FIRST TIME who was good enough to race at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals last season after winning over C&D. His form has rather fallen off a cliff since but so too has his handicap mark so he could be ready to strike now. In-form Inchcolm rates an obvious danger with mud lark Knocknamona likely to have suitable conditions.