19:40 Newcastle

Friday 28 June 2019

All17:3018:0018:3519:0519:4020:1520:50

Keltek Managed Water Solutions Handicap

Off time: 19:40 | Winning time: 2m 10.53s

(6)

Autretot³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Shane Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 77| BF

5/1

8lb lower than when finishing 1¾L third to Borodin over 1m on soft ground at Thirsk in September 2018; stays this trip; beaten 2L (third) by the recent Beverley winner Archie Perkins at Redcar (1m2f, gd/fm) latest; AW debut.

Form: 356-453

(12)

Elhafei³⁷¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 74

12/1

With John Gosden when finishing runner up on handicap debut at Yarmouth (7f, good to firm) in June 2018; weakened on his next start over 1m a few weeks later; off since and has moved onto pastures new for 20,000gns; bred for stamina.

Form: 4/5827-

(3)

Archippos⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Phil Dennis| T: M Herrington| OR: 74| D

9/2

Without a win since March 2018 (1m2f, soft) but is slowly working his way back to form; has recently joined Michael Herrington for £9,500; better judged on the form of his penultimate start over 1m4f here than at Chester (heavy).

Form: 6798-33

(2)

First Flight²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 73| D

10/1

4lb lower than when finishing third to Spray The Sea here (1m) last October; fairly recalcitrant since, digging his heels in completely and refusing to race at Beverley (1m+) three weeks ago; has the ability to stake a claim if in the mood; risky.

Form: 6034-7R

(11)

Elixsoft²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 73| C

6/1

Consistent AW performer since the turn of the year (form figures read; 4321227392) and sits on a joint career high mark as a result; beaten just ½L by Tamreer in a steadily run C&D fillies handicap 24 days ago; stamina a question mark.

Form: 227392

(5)

Blacklooks⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: D Allan| T: I Furtado| OR: 69

25/1

Won twice as a juvenile (7f), also displaying his quirks when running out at Nottingham in November 2017; badly out of sorts from 2018 onward; 0-4 at Newcastle; very hard to fancy.

Form: 000-097

(7)

Trinity Star^v²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: P J McDonald| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 67| D

16/1

Pontefract specialist, remains 2lb higher than when staying on strongly to beat Zlatan by 3¾L there in May 2018; is yet to truly prove that he handles the AW (0-4); posted a much more positive showing at Hamilton (1m1f, soft) latest.

Form: 022-876

(8)

Thawry^b¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 66| CD

12/1

All out to beat Dommersen by ½L over C&D (Class 4) in February; 4lb lower in the weights in a theoretically less competitive race (Class 5) so a case can be made; record of 1-21 is off-putting, although he mightn't quite stay 1m4f.

Form: 736950

(9)

Granite City Doc²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs L B Normile| OR: 66| CD

4/1

Took a rare step away from the button hook at Hamilton when making a winning AW debut over C&D earlier this month, keeping on well to beat Optima Petimus by ¾L; 4lb higher in a stronger race.

Form: 227-351

(1)

Bahkit⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: P Hanagan| T: P A Kirby| OR: 63| BF| CD

15/2

Front-running C&D winner, on the premises (fifth) when a beaten 9/4f over C&D in April; 1lb lower and holds a definite chance assuming that the vastly experienced former champion jockey Paul Hanagan can judge the early fractions to perfection.

Form: 558-725

(10)

Seaborough^p¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Connor Beasley| T: D Thompson| OR: 61

33/1

3lb lower than when scoring for Alan King over an extended mile at Nottingham (good to firm) last summer; can hardly be considered prolific (1-19), although has twice hit the frame for this trainer at Redcar (1m2f) in 2019.

Form: 354828

Non-Runners

(4)

Glorious Jem¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: D R Lanigan J: Daniel Muscutt

(13)

Odds On Oli¹⁶

Weight: 8-2| Age: 4

T: R A Fahey J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Granite City Doc (4/1), Archippos (9/2), Glorious Jem (9/2), Autretot (5/1), Elixsoft (6/1), Bahkit (15/2), First Flight (10/1), Odds On Oli (10/1), Elhafei (12/1), Thawry (12/1), Trinity Star (16/1), Blacklooks (25/1), Seaborough (33/1)

Another very tricky looking race which features a number of course winners, including the 1m specialists Odds On Oli and Elixsoft. Granite City Doc was a regular at Hamilton until making a winning C&D debut (Class 6), so he deserves a positive mention off a lightweight of 8st 8lb (despite a 4lb rise). Thawry doesn't win very often although could be suited by dropping back in trip, while the lightly-raced Glorious Jem also has an alternative option at Leicester on Thursday (6.55pm). Therefore, in an open race we'll chance the top-weight and AW debutante AUTRETOT, who is potentially just a shade better than a Class 5 handicapper.