17:30 Newcastle

Thursday 8 August 2019

All17:3018:0018:3019:0519:3520:0520:35

Sports Betting At betuk.com Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 2m 13.35s

(14)

King Of Naples^h²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Harry Russell⁽³⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 57

22/1

4lb lower than when winning over an extended 1m1f at Wolverhampton in February; fairly consistent since without necessarily appearing to be the most willing; should appreciate this trip.

Form: 150586

(3)

Greengage^h¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Josh Quinn| T: T Davidson| OR: 55| BF

4/1

Much improved since joining Cumbrian trainer Tristan Davidson; has worn a hood (retained) when twice finishing runner-up on turf at Ayr (1m2f) and Redcar (1m1f); the form horse and a major player.

Form: 996-922

(1)

My Renaissance^p,t¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: Sara Del Fabbro⁽⁵⁾| T: S England| OR: 54| D

80/1

Veteran who hasn't done a great deal of Flat racing in recent years; in front when falling at the last over fences at Cartmel (2m1½f, good) three starts back; is difficult to consider.

Form: 657/78-0

(12)

Melgate Majeure²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 58| C

2/1

2-2 here at Newcastle (7f-1m) and remains unexposed over today's longer trip; 5lb higher than when beating outsider Lexicon by 1¼L last November; nearest at the finish when fourth over 1m2f at Beverley 23 days ago.

Form: 6311-44

(4)

Top Offer^p¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 9-5| J: Aled Beech| T: P Morris| OR: 50| C

18/1

Tapeta regular; 4lb lower than when winning by a nose over 1m here last September; ran a solid race (fourth) at the recent Ladies Day fixture but is likely to find a few of the others stronger over 1m2f.

Form: 75-3604

(8)

Yvette¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Gavin Ashton⁽³⁾| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 58

7/2

Le Harve filly; has made only a minimal impact in a trio of runs in novice company (on Polytrack); steps up in trip for handicap/Tapeta debut and that should suit (dam was a 1m2f-1m7f winner); watch the market closely.

Form: 888

(7)

Splash Of Verve³³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Isobel Francis⁽⁵⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 48| C| D

16/1

Headed towards the finish when beaten a neck by today's rival Kodi Koh over C&D in May; has struggled on turf the past twice, including after a slow start at Carlisle (1m1f) last month.

Form: 223370

(2)

Kodi Koh³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: George Bass⁽⁵⁾| T: S G West| OR: 47| BF| CD

10/1

Edged out today's rival Splash Of Verve when winning over C&D in May and backed that up with another excellent run here (1m4f) in June; not so sharp on turf since but still handily weighted and definitely enters the thinking.

Form: 941257

(6)

Sulafaat^p³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Russell Harris⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 47| C

25/1

Doesn't have a great deal to find with the likes of Kodi Koh and Splash Of Verve on the basis of May's C&D form (fourth at 50-1); that said, it'll come as a surprise if she's good enough.

Form: 0-04750

(10)

Bromance²⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Ella McCain| T: P D Niven| OR: 46| D

25/1

Off the track since October 2018 and just 1-24 overall. On the plus side, he's now 9lb lower than when finishing a close second to Swansway over 1m here in December 2016; watching brief.

Form: 566776-

(9)

Optima Petamus^b⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Owen Payton⁽⁷⁾| T: L Bailey| OR: 46

25/1

Without a win since scoring for Luca Cumani back in 2015; 0-16 on the AW, although he has played a part in proceedings at this track in the past, namely when an arguably unlucky second to Granite City Doc in June.

Form: 626046

(5)

Mi Laddo^p,t¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Keelan Baker⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 48

16/1

11-race maiden with plenty of Tapeta experience; competes off the same mark as when a keeping on third to Bob's Girl on the Westwood at Beverley (1m2f, good to firm) 17 days ago.

Form: 883563

(13)

Amourie⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Laura Coughlan| T: R Craggs| OR: 45

100/1

Six-race maiden; has fallen 13lb since introduced to handicapping; finished a tailed-off last at Ripon (1m4f, good to soft) in June; rates as most unappealing.

Form: 9-69098

(11)

Harperelle^p1²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Corey Madden⁽⁵⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 45

50/1

11-race maiden; hasn't kicked on since finishing third in a 5f seller here in February (for Karl Burke); cheekpieces added as she seeks to rediscover a spark and continue a very positive spell of form for her Borders based trainer.

Form: 700B67

Forecasts

Melgate Majeure (2/1), Yvette (7/2), Greengage (4/1), Kodi Koh (10/1), Mi Laddo (16/1), Splash Of Verve (16/1), Top Offer (18/1), King Of Naples (22/1), Sulafaat (25/1), Optima Petamus (25/1), Bromance (25/1), Harperelle (50/1), My Renaissance (80/1), Amourie (100/1)

An interesting opener with the Sir Mark Prescott-trained handicap debutante Yvette the horse to monitor in the market now stepping up in trip (dam won over 1m2f-1m7f). Both Kodi Koh and Melgate Majeure (2-2 here) will almost certainly appreciate the return of more regular racing at Gosforth Park with the latter remaining unexposed over 1m2f. However, a strong preference is for the Tristan Davidson-trained maiden GREENGAGE. This filly is a much improved horse for current connections, taking extremely well to the fitting of a hood. She had the misfortune to bump into the very well-handicapped Irish raider Effernock Fizz at Redcar (1m1f) 18 days ago.