13:50 Newcastle

Saturday 29 June 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:1517:50

Betfair Exchange Handicap

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 1m 11.24s

(10)

Staxton^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 95| D

15/2

Fourth in this race last year as a three-year-old (only previous AW start); slipped in the weights this year without really getting going (shaped better last time; 7f stretched him). Now back at 6f off a 5lb lower mark than last year; one to respect.

Form: 26-3088

(3)

Air Raid¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 95| D

6/1

Yet to prove himself on AW (0-3; 0-2 here); won his last two starts over 6f at Hamilton (impressive under a penalty last time). Dominated both those races from the front (travels strongly); won't find that as easy to do here off an 8lb higher mark.

Form: 780-711

(8)

Arecibo⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 94| D

18/1

Three-time sprint winner in France (including on AW); showed some promise on GB/stable debut, below-par (first-time cheekpieces) last time. Down 6lb from his initial mark, still needs to improve (now gelded); hard to recommend on current evidence.

Form: 3489-90

(1)

Brian The Snail¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 91| D

11/1

Inconsistent sort who took advantage of a career-low mark/class drop when winning at Doncaster off a 5lb lower mark. No surprise to find him not capable off the same form last time in very different conditions; has to prove AW effectiveness.

Form: 060516

(13)

Cosmic Law¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: R A Fahey| OR: 97| D

5/1

Form rather tailed off as a juvenile (ran poorly on only AW start over C&D; unplaced favourite); started the season well (two wins plus ran well at Group level). Bounced back this year in two handicaps; needs a return to 7f to be seen at his best.

Form: 8435-24

(6)

Giogiobbo^b²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: B A Curtis| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 87| D

16/1

Five-time winner on AW in France at around 6f but yet to really fire on his GB starts (turf/AW) despite dropping rapidly in the weights. Has produced a couple of respectable efforts, surprising if he can win this despite help from the handicapper.

Form: 943654

(9)

Dalton¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: G Lee| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 87| D

6/1

Four-time turf winner (AW virgin); comes here off the back of a career-best over today's trip on heavy ground at Nottingham (won on all types of ground). Up a further 4lb for last win so will have to defy a career-high mark but one for the shortlist.

Form: 564-831

(14)

Deep Intrigue³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 93| CD

11/2

3-6 on the AW the last of those wins being a C&D success - conditions event (battled on well); not one since then with last three starts of a modest nature. Tried mainly at 7f since last win (has sprinting pedigree); could be better back at this 6f.

Form: 112749

(12)

Mokaatil²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Kerrin McEvoy| T: Ian Williams| OR: 86

12/1

Previous form over 6f (0-3) leaves an immediate question mark with both his wins having come at 5f on turf. Failed to get the run of the race in the Epsom Dash last time, better judged on his earlier Pontefract win; trip/track doubts remain.

Form: 651340

(2)

Fuente¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K Shoemark| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 92| D

28/1

Handicap debut last time (stiff task) came on the back of a wind op (offered little on that start over 6f). Made only a modest impact on his sole AW (Polytrack) attempt, would need to bounce back to his best here; dropped 4lb from last time.

Form: 61D36-0

(7)

Katheefa¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 84| CD

18/1

More at home on the AW these days (three-time winner already this year); has won over C&D in the past in a much lower grade. Given his recent AW efforts (last win off lower, in a lesser grade) will need to step up again to get involved here.

Form: 171610

(4)

Von Blucher^b1⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: C Lee| T: R Menzies| OR: 84| C

9/1

Lightly raced on the AW (2-4; including course win off 12lb higher) it needs a return to this surface to improve some uninspiring form figures this year. Blinkers now tried (first-time) in an effort to help him off what is a rapidly falling mark.

Form: 82-0000

Non-Runners

(5)

Lahore²³

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: Phillip Makin J: Tom Marquand

(11)

Nick Vedder¹²⁰

Weight: 9-0| Age: 5

T: M Wigham J: Andrea Atzeni

Forecasts

Cosmic Law (5/1), Deep Intrigue (11/2), Dalton (6/1), Air Raid (6/1), Staxton (15/2), Von Blucher (9/1), Nick Vedder (10/1), Brian The Snail (11/1), Mokaatil (12/1), Giogiobbo (16/1), Katheefa (18/1), Arecibo (18/1), Lahore (25/1), Fuente (28/1)

A competitive opener to the main Flat card of the year at the track with Air Raid expected to be popular after his two recent Hamilton victories over his trip but he’s up in class and raised 8lb; this will be tougher. Not many three-year-olds have run in this so far (there are three this year) but the two that have produced a winner and a fourth, Cosmic Law would be their main player this year having found his feet in handicaps of late. DALTON will need a career-best making his AW debut but this versatile sort looks on the up and can defy a 4lb rise for his Nottingham win. Staxton could improve on his fourth in this last year and he’s considered along with course specialist Nick Vedder.