16:55 Newcastle

Friday 6 September 2019

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2016:55

Wateraid Handicap

Off time: 16:58 | Winning time: 1m 30.09s

(14)

Dirchill^b⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Nathan Evans| T: D Thompson| OR: 60

20/1

12-race AW maiden who has run some reasonable races at this track, including when finishing third to Epeius over 6f in May (now rated 7lb lower); bitterly disappointing when last in action in June.

Form: 387040

(13)

Crimson Skies¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: S H James| T: J J Davies| OR: 57

50/1

15-race maiden; has hardly beaten a single rival in three starts on turf (1m1f-1m4f) in 2019; drops right back in trip for a first ever start over 7f; readily opposed.

Form: 260-800

(9)

Extrasolar^t³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: C Lee| T: G A Harker| OR: 57

50/1

A fair handicapper in previous years, often saving his very best efforts for Catterick; seemingly isn't the force of old, having regularly competed in sellers and veteran handicaps this year; 0-12 on the AW.

Form: 243987

(1)

Paradise Papers²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: P J McDonald| T: T D Barron| OR: 60

22/1

Poor on turf (0-3) since finishing an encouraging third on debut over C&D in March; although that wasn't the strongest of fillies' novice events, she could play a minor role if back to that sort of level; her second handicap start.

Form: 3890

(6)

No More Regrets²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Zak Wheatley⁽⁷⁾| T: P Morris| OR: 60

25/1

5½f French maiden winner (May 2018); has fallen a whopping 24lb in the weights since going handicapping for Richard Hannon in August 2018; 0-7 for Patrick Morris, albeit ran respectably on recent AW bow (Wolverhampton).

Form: 785675

(11)

Firsteen⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: P Hanagan| T: A C Whillans| OR: 60| D

4/1

A diminutive but likeable and consistent filly (3,3,2,2 here in 2019) who competes for an in-form trainer; beaten a neck by 33-1 winner Castle Quarter over C&D last month; 1lb higher; goes well for Paul Hanagan, so ought to be there or thereabouts.

Form: 204125

(12)

Scandinavian Lady²²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: D C Costello| T: I Furtado| OR: 58| C

25/1

Let her previous form light years behind when scoring on handicap debut (Firsteen third) over 6f here in January; off the track since (for 224 days); is 5lb higher and tackling a new trip on her return to action.

Form: 0000-1

(8)

The Bull^p⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: A Mullen| T: B Haslam| OR: 54| C

11/2

3lb higher than when a ½L winner over 5f here in November (form isn't overly strong); was making just his second ever career start over 7f when finishing a nearest at the finish fifth to Sophia Maria over C&D last week.

Form: 632445

(5)

Gunmaker¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Aled Beech⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 54| D

11/1

13lb lower than when finishing second to Gowanbuster over 6f here in April, but well wide of the target in seven subsequent starts; with an overall career record of 1-30 he's worth opposing.

Form: 508969

(3)

Midnight In Havana¹²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R Ffrench| T: B Smart| OR: 58| BF

8/1

Lightly raced Havana Gold gelding; was a beaten favourite on his most recent start in May (127 days ago); is possibly better judged on his earlier 25-1 C&D third to Camber; one to keep an eye upon in the market exchanges.

Form: 573-34

(4)

Barbarosa¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Phil Dennis| T: M Herrington| OR: 58

11/4

Joined Michael Herrington mid-season and remains a maiden (0-11); was caught close home at Ripon (1m2f, good) recently and is due a 2lb weights rise; is worth considering, albeit it's a slight surprise that he drops back in trip (to a stiff 7f).

Form: 584742

(2)

A Hundred Echoes^p1¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 57

14/1

Kyllachy gelding who cost 52,000gns as a juvenile; has been exposed as a moderate performer on the track and now sports cheekpieces on handicap debut; certainly doesn't appear to be a leading light for Newmarket handler Roger Varian.

Form: 904

(10)

Ghathanfar¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Cam Hardie| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 56

9/1

Shadwell cast-off; twice placed on turf (7f) for the Spennymoor trainer Tracy Waggott, including when beaten 3¾L (third) by Our Charlie Brown at Catterick last month; couldn't be discounted in a weak race on AW debut; chance.

Form: 662703

Non-Runners

(7)

Hitman¹⁸

Weight: 9-5| Age: 6

T: Rebecca Bastiman J: Lewis Edmunds

Forecasts

Barbarosa (11/4), Firsteen (4/1), The Bull (11/2), Midnight In Havana (8/1), Ghathanfar (9/1), Gunmaker (11/1), A Hundred Echoes (14/1), Hitman (14/1), Dirchill (20/1), Paradise Papers (22/1), Scandinavian Lady (25/1), No More Regrets (25/1), Extrasolar (50/1), Crimson Skies (50/1)

A low-grade finale, so there's a reluctance to offer a strong opinion as to the likely outcome. Roger Varian saddles the handicap newcomer A Hundred Echoes who certainly can't be labelled as a stable star. The likes of The Bull, Barbarosa and Firsteen are all in reasonable form at present and could feasibly play a constructive role, while the market could hold the necessary clues with regards the returning duo Scandanavian Lady and Midnight in Havana. However in nominating a potential winner, the spotlight shines on the Tracy Waggott-trained AW debutant GHATHANFAR who has the scope to take a race of this nature somewhere along the line.