19:15 Newcastle

Friday 30 August 2019

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Central Employment Handicap

Off time: 19:17 | Winning time: 2m 14.48s

(10)

Home Before Dusk^p⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 64| C

6/4

Wore a first-time visor when scoring by a neck here (1m) in June; rated 8lb higher now, albeit arrives in-form following a keeping on second to Royal Shaheen at Carlisle (1m1f, good to soft) last week.

Form: 661502

(9)

Thawry⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 64| CD

14/1

All out to beat Dommersen by ½L over C&D (Class 4) in February; 6lb lower in the weights in a much less competitive race (Class 6), yet hasn't omitted too many positive signals in recent starts.

Form: 369508

(6)

Ad Libitum^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: K Stott| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 63

8/1

Continues to fall in the weights after a barren spell of form; is yet to win on the AW (0-7), but that's not a major concern in the grand scheme of things; difficult to envisage a revival is forthcoming.

Form: 777349

(5)

Ishebayorgrey^h⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: G Lee| T: I Jardine| OR: 61

7/1

Consistent without winning since joining Iain Jardine; 2lb higher than when finishing 2L third to Granite City Doc over C&D in June; is possibly most effective over 1m; likely to have to settle for minor honours once more.

Form: 362333

(13)

Kilbaha Lady⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 61| C| D

6/1

Likeable mare who knows how to win races; followed up an early season Redcar win (1m2f) with a gritty display at Beverley (1m2f, good to soft); not at her best latest but is very reasonably treated on the AW (8lb lower than on turf).

Form: 141436

(1)

Irish Minister³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: A Elliott| T: D Thompson| OR: 58

16/1

All out winner of a Gowran Park median auction maiden (1m, soft to heavy) for Joseph O'Brien in May 2018; barren since, including 0-5 for this trainer; in free-fall down the handicap (71 to 58).

Form: 0-06969

(11)

Lucy's Law¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: J P Sullivan| T: T P Tate| OR: 56| C

14/1

Course winner (Sept 2016); stood very little racing in 2018, so has clearly had her issues; on a downward spiral since a promising third to all the way winner Captain Pugwash at Wetherby (1m2f, good to soft) in May; mark easing.

Form: 736050

(3)

Cottingham¹⁷²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-3| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: K Frost| OR: 47

25/1

Formerly with Amanda Perrett (sold for 6,000gns); his mark has eased 9lb in four starts for this trainer, with his best run coming on Tapeta at Wolverhampton in January (third); first competitive start since March.

Form: 4558-36

(2)

Kodi Koh⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: L Morris| T: S G West| OR: 46| CD

9/1

Competes off the same mark as when scoring over C&D in May (beat Splash Of Verve by a neck); back to form with a keeping on 20-1 second at Beverley (1m2f) on Sunday; could well be involved with Luke Morris in the plate.

Form: 125702

(12)

Bromance^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-2| J: A Mullen| T: P D Niven| OR: 45| D

25/1

Unconvincing (1-25), although he does handle this surface and probably needed the return to action over C&D three weeks ago; nevertheless, others make considerably more appeal.

Form: 66776-8

(4)

New Rhythm³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Izzy Clifton⁽⁷⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 45

50/1

Well beaten on all three starts (7f-1m) spread over a period of 16 months or so; may fare better now sent into a low-grade handicap by an in-form trainer, but on the whole rates as impossible to recommend.

Form: 40-0

(7)

Bigdabog¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 45

50/1

Poor eight-race maiden; finished last of 13 (50-1) in a Class 6 handicap at Thirsk (1m4f, soft) a fortnight ago; simply can't be the solution.

Form: 3700-00

(14)

Prosecute¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-2| J: Owen Payton⁽⁷⁾| T: S Regan| OR: 45| D

66/1

No win since his days with David Simcock (June 2016), bringing the record to 1-24 at Carlisle (1m, heavy) 17 days ago; look elsewhere with a degree of confidence.

Form: 90-5590

Non-Runners

(8)

Celtic Artisan⁴⁵

Weight: 9-7| Age: 8

T: R Menzies J: Ella McCain

Forecasts

Home Before Dusk (6/4), Celtic Artisan (5/1), Kilbaha Lady (6/1), Ishebayorgrey (7/1), Ad Libitum (8/1), Kodi Koh (9/1), Thawry (14/1), Lucy's Law (14/1), Irish Minister (16/1), Cottingham (25/1), Bromance (25/1), Bigdabog (50/1), New Rhythm (50/1), Prosecute (66/1)

An open race. The likes of Celtic Artisan (favours Wolverhampton), Home Before Dusk and Ishebayorgrey are all more than capable of being positively involved but the sneaking suspicion in each case is that place prospects are more realistic. Kilbaha Lady and Lucy's Law appeal from a handicapping perspective, albeit with the former needing to prove herself on the AW and the latter needing to get her career back on track. Therefore, the safest option for small stakes is the C&D winner KODI KOH who is turned out swiftly on the back of a pleasing run on the Westwood at Beverley on Sunday.