19:30 Newcastle

Friday 27 September 2019

All17:2518:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

betuk.com Handicap

Off time: 19:31 | Winning time: 1m 27.47s

(1)

Fard⁷^{(ex 10)}

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 52| C

9/4

Took 23 starts to get his head in front, but has won his last two, and did well to win over 6f here last time after getting outpaced following a slow start. Return to 7f will suit, and the hat-trick beckons.

Form: 656411

(9)

Ubla^e/s¹¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: L Morris| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 55| D

12/1

Put some poor efforts behind him when returning to winning ways in a 7f handicap at Kempton last time. A 5lb penalty is not unduly harsh, and he should be thereabouts if in the same form.

Form: 950591

(3)

Hippeia^v²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Danny Redmond⁽⁵⁾| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 55

28/1

Standout effort when runner-up in a Beverley claimer last month, but that run surrounded by lesser efforts and she looks too high in the weights.

Form: 892078

(2)

Gun Case^p⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: D C Costello| T: A C Whillans| OR: 54| CD

12/1

Yard amongst the winners here in recent days, and this gelding scored over C&D last August. Below form on all starts this season, however, and hard to back him with much confidence despite a sliding mark.

Form: 4-78040

(4)

The Bull^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P Mulrennan| T: B Haslam| OR: 53| C

13/2

Won over 5f here on final 3-y-o outing. Has been running with credit all year without troubling the judge unduly, and last couple of efforts over C&D suggest he has place claims.

Form: 324454

(11)

Rebel State^b⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Owen Payton⁽⁷⁾| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 52

12/1

Has struggled to make a major impact since finishing second at Ayr in May, and took a backward step when sixth of 11 to The Big House at Catterick last time.

Form: 377956

(7)

Billy Wedge¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Barry McHugh| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 51

12/1

Would have place claims on form of his close second over 7f at Thirsk in June, but that effort is a bit of a standout on this year's card, and others bring much stronger credentials.

Form: 082090

(5)

Lincoln Red²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Phil Dennis| T: Olly Williams| OR: 54

25/1

Dual Yarmouth winner in May/June, but progress has levelled out, and he didn't look an easy ride when seventh at Wolverhampton last time, going in snatches and hanging.

Form: 166497

(12)

Lukoutoldmakezebak^p⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Harrison Shaw⁽³⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 51| CD

11/1

Twice a winner her in 2018. Good third at Musselburgh after winning an apprentice handicap at Ripon in August, but he was rather disappointing when 7½L ninth of 13 to Christmas Night at Catterick last time. Must bounce back if he's to feature.

Form: 948139

(10)

Salmon Fishing^p⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Seamus Cronin⁽⁵⁾| T: M Moubarak| OR: 54

8/1

Respectable efforts at best in handicaps this year, although did put up one of his better performances when 3¼L fifth of 13 to Fard here last time. No easy task turning that form around.

Form: 956085

(8)

Groupie⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: J P Sullivan| T: T P Tate| OR: 51| D

14/1

Below her best, albeit not beaten that far by the placed horses, when ninth to Fard here last time. Handicapper has cut her some slack, and she is fairly treated if finding last season's form.

Form: 884759

(14)

Temple of Wonder^p¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: D Nolan| T: L Bailey| OR: 52

33/1

Has been well below form since finishing second over 1m½f at Hamilton in July, and while his mark has slipped, it's debatable if he's in the form to take advantage.

Form: 929789

(13)

Relight My Fire^b⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Hart| T: T D Easterby| OR: 49| D

28/1

Not the force of old. Has stopped the rot with a couple of respectable efforts on his last two starts, but seems to save his best for amateur riders' races these days.

Form: 784044

Non-Runners

(6)

Fort Benton¹¹

Weight: 9-4| Age: 3

T: T D Barron J: R P Downey

Forecasts

Fard (9/4), The Bull (13/2), Salmon Fishing (8/1), Lukoutoldmakezebak (11/1), Billy Wedge (12/1), Ubla (12/1), Rebel State (12/1), Gun Case (12/1), Groupie (14/1), Lincoln Red (25/1), Hippeia (28/1), Relight My Fire (28/1), Temple of Wonder (33/1), Fort Benton (33/1)

Only a handful of these make serious appeal, and it's the penalised pair at the head of the weights who ought to dominate, with the resurgent FARD preferred to Ubla despite a cumulative 10lb impost for his recent successes. The Bull is most interesting of the remainder and can help boost exotics.