19:35 Newcastle

Friday 18 October 2019

All17:0017:3518:0518:3519:0519:3520:05

Hadley Steel Framing Handicap

Off time: 19:37 | Winning time: 1m 38.53s

(3)

Home Before Dusk^p⁷^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Ben Sanderson⁽⁵⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 72| CD

5/2

Loves it here (3 C&D victories to his name this season), and he achieved a career best when winning over C&D last week. On a career high mark now off 6lb higher, but foolish to underestimate when in career-best form.

Form: 216221

(8)

Dubai Acclaim^p²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 75| CD

12/1

Continued good run of form by following up Doncaster (1m; good to firm) victory with a win at Beverley (7f; soft). Up another 3lb as he chases a hat-trick, but he has won over C&D before and possesses major claims.

Form: 262211

(13)

La Rav²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 75| D

7/1

Impossible to fancy given the manner of the defeats he has suffered on both starts since returning to the track this season, including when a well-beaten 14th of 14 at Ayr (7f; good) last time out. Drops in class but major revival required.

Form: 0/080-00

(10)

Plunger^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: P J McDonald| T: P & O Cole| OR: 75

11/2

Been in quiet form on these shores this season, but his most recent effort at Lingfield (1m; standard) was probably his best run in the UK this season (nit beaten far into fourth). Strong place claims if able to build upon that.

Form: 751664

(1)

Elixsoft^p²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 74| CD

28/1

Showed improved form last time out when beaten in a photo-finish over 7f here by a William Haggas runner who was well-fancied (11/8f). Looks to hold Nooshin on that form and she has place claims in a slightly stronger contest.

Form: 099752

(9)

Amber Spark¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 75| C

10/1

Finished out of the placings the last twice, but not totally disgraced in either of those starts and this represents a steep drop in class. 3lb below the mark she scored off at Ripon (1m2f; soft) in June, and she is dangerous to dismiss.

Form: 603386

(6)

Lucky Number⁵²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Georgia Cox⁽³⁾| T: W J Haggas| OR: 75| BF| D

7/1

Flourished for the switch to handicap company (11lb above opening mark) and he is still unexposed after just the three starts in this sphere. Now makes AW debut for trainer with impressive record at this track, and he has huge claims.

Form: 885312

(2)

Moongazer⁹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 74

33/1

Returns to the track after 94-day absence. Last seen when fluffing her lines on turf/handicap debut in July. Surely capable of better than that and the return to AW is a big positive. Market check strongly advised.

Form: 1239

(5)

Nooshin^t²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 73

12/1

Maiden (0-8) who has been a bit underwhelming since making a highly promising handicap debut at Sandown (1m; soft) in June, but she hasn't been disgraced since then and still has some potential in this sphere. Does have a bit to prove though.

Form: 422454

(11)

Ideal Candy^h³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Gemma Tutty⁽³⁾| T: K Tutty| OR: 70| D

100/1

She has produced two good runs in defeat this season, but they have been sandwiched by a pair of contrastingly dreadful efforts. Failed to beat a single rival most recently at Thirsk (1m; good to firm) and a major revival is now required.

Form: 472930

(7)

Valley of Fire^p²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: J L Eyre| OR: 68

33/1

Not beaten far last time out when third at Beverley (7f; soft) off a 1lb higher mark. Still 2lb above the mark he scored off at Redcar (7f; good to firm) in August. 0-4 on AW.

Form: 662103

(14)

Elusive Heights²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mulrennan| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 68| D

14/1

Was running exclusively at this track from September through to December last year. Posted some respectable efforts during that time. However, his two efforts since he has returned to the track this summer have been wholly uninspiring.

Form: 4735-99

(12)

Zoravan^b²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁵⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 67| D

28/1

Finished runner-up on five occasions this season, including last time out over 7f at this track. Yard among the winners at present, and so he has to be considered for a place at least given his consistent record.

Form: 742422

(4)

Destroyer⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: A Mullen| T: T P Tate| OR: 67| D

20/1

Ran his best race for some time when third at Pontefract (1m; good to firm) two starts back, but then he failed to reproduce that effort when he trailed in 12th of 13 over C&D last week. Lots to prove.

Form: 908730

Forecasts

Home Before Dusk (5/2), Plunger (11/2), La Rav (7/1), Lucky Number (7/1), Amber Spark (10/1), Nooshin (12/1), Dubai Acclaim (12/1), Elusive Heights (14/1), Destroyer (20/1), Zoravan (28/1), Elixsoft (28/1), Valley of Fire (33/1), Moongazer (33/1), Ideal Candy (100/1)

This is an incredibly competitive race, with Home Before Dusk bringing C&D form to the table after regaining the winning thread here last week. He is respected but has to concede weight to some dangerous rivals such as Dubai Acclaim who is in the form of his life and is bidding to notch a hat-trick. The most intriguing horse in the contest is Moongazer who ran too bad to be true on handicap debut. However, LUCKY NUMBER makes his AW debut and can enhance the impressive strike-rate his trainer holds at Gosforth Park. The selection only just failed to deal with an 8lb rise for his Bath success when runner-up there in August and can continue progressing in handicaps.