17:50 Newcastle

Tuesday 4 June 2019

All17:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:20

Watch Royal Ascot On Sky Sports Racing Handicap

Off time: 17:51 | Winning time: 2m 47.22s

(1)

Nearly There^t⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Nicola Currie| T: W Storey| OR: 54

7/1

12-race maiden who finished in the frame in three runs at this track towards the end of 2018. Nowhere near as good in two runs here this year and has a lot to do off joint top-weight.

Form: 9332-98

(10)

Life Knowledge^p⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: L Bailey| OR: 54| CD

11/4

Two time C&D winner who tends to go well at this venue. Has never won anywhere else in his career. Reappeared after a four-month break when not beaten far in fourth at Leicester (1m4f; good to firm). Could get involved in this uncompetitive affair.

Form: 29418-4

(4)

Amity Island^b²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 52

16/1

Kept on the go throughout the winter, producing fairly modest efforts. Much more like it last time out though when three-length runner-up behind an odds-on favourite at Ripon (1m2f; good to soft). Place claims if able to reproduce that form.

Form: 6-55072

(9)

Gabriel's Oboe^b1³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: D C Costello| T: M Walford| OR: 52

33/1

Lightly raced four-year-old who has ran just five times and never featured in any of those career starts. Mark has already dropped 10lb in two runs since he made his handicap debut in April. First time blinkers would have to work miracles.

Form: 7/06-00

(5)

Jan De Heem¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 52| D

33/1

Nine-year-old who made a low-profile comeback 11 days ago when finishing eleventh of twelve at Pontefract (1m4f; good to firm). Ran okay towards the end of last season with a couple of placed efforts but hard to be enthusiastic about.

Form: 33733-0

(13)

Enemy Of The State^p¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: T Eaves| T: J Ward| OR: 52

22/1

15-race maiden who has finished down the field in all three starts this year. Most recently when finishing eight of twelve at Doncaster (1m4f; good to firm). 1lb below the mark he ran off when head-second at Musselburgh on final run of last season.

Form: 482-898

(8)

My Mo⁶⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Hart| T: T Davidson| OR: 50| BF

9/4

Hasn't been seen for 670 days since tailed off over fences at Stratford. Makes debut for new yard. Such an absence would usually be a big worry, but not the case with this yard who have shown multiple times they can ready one. Watch market.

Form: 908025/

(2)

Melabi²⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: J Garritty| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 48| D

33/1

Cannot be recommended after a poor showing last season. Best run of that campaign was a short-head second at Beverley (1m4f; good to firm). Major slump in form has led to a 17lb drop in the handicap. Makes seasonal reappearance.

Form: 254760-

(3)

Cryogenics⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽⁵⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 48

100/1

Has been tailed off the last twice both over hurdles at Sedgefield (2m; good) and on the flat at Redcar (7f; good to firm). Sent off at 100-1 on both of those occasions and he is best watched again today.

Form: 0/580

(14)

Byronegetonefree^p³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mathers| T: W Coltherd| OR: 47| CD

40/1

Not been seen in this code for 634 days. Off the track for a year-and-a-half prior to comeback in March over hurdles. Has been well beaten in two starts since then but this dual C&D winner ran well here on penultimate flat start.

Form: 746520/

(7)

Kodi Koh³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: S G West| OR: 47| C

8/1

C&D winner 32 days ago on her third start for new stable since switching from David Evans. Stayed on strongly to prevail by a neck. Crying out for the step up to 1m4f and could now make up for lost time.

Form: 659941

(11)

Bigbadboy¹⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Cam Hardie| T: C A Mulhall| OR: 47| C

18/1

Was having his second run after an 11-month absence when ninth of fourteen at this track (1m4f; standard to slow). Obviously not the easiest to train as he hasn't been for 143 days since then so possibly held up through injury again. Lot to prove.

Form: 6346/0-9

(6)

Steel Helmet¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: J Fanning| T: H Bethell| OR: 45

14/1

Last seen in the winners enclosure when scoring at Chelmsford (1m2f; standard) by a head in April 2018. Has offered next to nothing since then and latest two runs over hurdles have been uninspiring. 4lb below last winning mark.

Form: 0675-85

(12)

Clayton Hall^p⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: G Lee| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 45

100/1

Recent form in this sphere and over jumps leaves a lot to be desired. Last seen on the flat when finishing eighth of thirteen at Wetherby (2m; good to firm) almost a year ago. Others make much more appeal.

Form: 506658-

Forecasts

My Mo (9/4), Life Knowledge (11/4), Nearly There (7/1), Kodi Koh (8/1), Steel Helmet (14/1), Amity Island (16/1), Bigbadboy (18/1), Enemy Of The State (22/1), Jan De Heem (33/1), Melabi (33/1), Gabriel's Oboe (33/1), Byronegetonefree (40/1), Clayton Hall (100/1), Cryogenics (100/1)

There are plenty who can be ruled out with confidence in this contest, but that cannot be said for KODI KOH who was value for more than his tight winning margin would suggest when scoring at this track last month. He should improve plenty for the step up to 1m4f and can kick on now that he has broke his maiden duck. My Mo is the most intriguing horse in the line-up on his first start for Tristan Davidson who excels with such types and any positive market vibes would enhance this seven-year-old's claims. Life Knowledge likes it at Gosforth Park as he showed in a couple of runs last October, and can run an admirable race in third carrying joint top-weight.