20:15 Newcastle

Friday 30 August 2019

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

Elmer's Great North Parade Handicap

Off time: 20:16 | Winning time: 1m 28.03s

(2)

Black Friday^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: L Morris| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 71

7/2

Still seeking his first win after 11 previous attempts but has plenty of placed form on his CV, including when beaten a neck by Knowing Glance at Carlisle (7f, heavy); has previous with Smugglers Creek; a major player at this level.

Form: 342-832

(8)

Smugglers Creek^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 69| CD

8/1

Held on gamely when making all (his usual tactics) to score by a narrow margin over C&D last November; back to form at Musselburgh latest (second) and has a reasonable chance if able to replicate that effort.

Form: 571072

(10)

Impulsive Force⁴⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 67

33/1

Lightly raced handicap newcomer; absent since competing at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) in May 2018; can only be monitored for signs of progress for future engagements; stablemate of Bobby Joe Leg.

Form: 646-

(9)

Kentuckyconnection³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 66| C| D

9/2

Took advantage of an ease in grade (Class 6) when seeing off the reliable Scuzeme over 6f here in April; remains 3lb above that winning mark, but wasn't beaten far (nearest at the finish) at Beverley (7½f, good) in late July.

Form: 717565

(3)

Insurplus⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: J S Goldie| OR: 65| CD

9/1

Productive over 1m here during March (1,2,1); lifeless on turf thereafter until finally exploiting a favourable mark at Redcar (1m, good); no show back there just six days ago (last of 13); this 7f trip isn't a perfect match.

Form: 708810

(6)

Mudawwan^b¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: J D Bethell| OR: 63| CD

13/2

C&D winner from a 7lb higher mark last September (beat Im Dapper Too by a head); inconsistent since, although wasn't necessarily disgraced when finishing third of 12 to Luzum at Thirsk (7f, good to soft) three starts back.

Form: 480300

(11)

Rock Boy Grey¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: S Donohoe| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 63

12/1

Cost 40,000gns as a juvenile; has taken time and remains lightly raced after just five starts; his easing mark of 63 appears to be relatively fair; finished 5L fourth to Mubhij in a C&D novice in June 2018.

Form: 54-545

(5)

Bobby Joe Leg^b¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: J Garritty| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 63| C

16/1

Has witnessed plenty of racing of the AW since making a surprise winning debut (33-1) over 6f here in November 2017; handily weighted on his course form from January and could strip fitter for a recent spin at Thirsk (sixth); trip?

Form: 223556

(7)

Dandy Highwayman^p,t⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Cam Hardie| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 62| C

12/1

A reliable low-grade handicapper who is versatile in terms of racing surface (turf or AW); won twice over 6f here last winter and competes from the same mark as on the latter occasion; twice placed on turf (7f-7½f) during July.

Form: 524033

(4)

Beverley Bullet^v1⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 60| BF| C| D

13/2

Broke his AW duck by the finest of margins (a nose) when justifying favouritism over 1m here on Ladies Day in July; less effective on good to soft turf since (Carlisle); 1lb higher in a newly applied visor.

Form: 438150

(1)

Duke Cosimo¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 8-9| J: Phil Dennis| T: M Herrington| OR: 57| C

16/1

Solid over 6f here during the course of the previous winter AW season (2,7,2,6,1,2,6) but paid the price to the handicapper and has struggled of late; his July Wolverhampton second came in a claimer.

Form: 700267

Forecasts

Black Friday (7/2), Kentuckyconnection (9/2), Beverley Bullet (13/2), Mudawwan (13/2), Smugglers Creek (8/1), Insurplus (9/1), Rock Boy Grey (12/1), Dandy Highwayman (12/1), Duke Cosimo (16/1), Bobby Joe Leg (16/1), Impulsive Force (33/1)

Smugglers Creek and BLACK FRIDAY have previous, with the former coming out on top when second best to Donnelly's Rainbow at Musselburgh (7f) earlier this month. However, that sharp track almost certainly suited the prominent run style of the Iain Jardine-trained five-year-old, and despite having also won here in the past, such tactics are never as easy to adopt at Newcastle. Therefore, we'll take the chance on the locally-trained Black Friday extracting his revenge and in the process deservedly breaking the maiden tag at the 12th attempt. Others with place claims include Dandy Highwayman and Bobby Joe Leg.