15:45 Newcastle

Friday 1 November 2019

All15:4516:1516:5017:2518:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

Betway Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 1m 11.67s

(14)

Metallic Black³⁹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Sean Davis| T: R A Fahey| OR: 76| D

8/1

Newcomer to the AW and now makes his belated handicap debut as a 3yo on the back of a significant absence. Won a minor 6f event on his 2yo debut but regressed from that start to look less than straightforward when last seen; given a stiff task.

Form: 1450-

(3)

Ascended¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Georgia Cox| T: W J Haggas| OR: 74

13/2

Gradually returned to form after winning a minor event on her 3yo/AW debut at Wolverhampton over 7f. Hasn't found life particularly easy in handicaps since then until doing best of those held up over C&D last time; worth another chance now.

Form: 147455

(8)

Daafr²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Seamus Cronin| T: A Brittain| OR: 74| CD

17/2

C&D winner when with John Gosden he's yet to score since having changed yards; handicap mark hits a career-low gaining some much needed respite from the handicapper. Still proving more miss than hit though; best watched dropping in trip.

Form: 674550

(7)

Jonboy⁴⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Danny Redmond| T: D H Brown| OR: 72| BF

33/1

First start for this yard having only been lightly-raced, this will be just his sixth start with just one previous try in a handicap (6lb higher mark). Despite being strong in the market for his last run he failed to convince; now makes his AW debut.

Form: 61/426-

(6)

Mr Buttons^p³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Cameron Noble| T: Mrs L Stubbs| OR: 70

7/1

Only career win came on 2yo debut when with Richard Fahey at Southwell (5f) and he's yet to finish out of the frame in four AW starts. Fully exposed now he did bounce back to near his best last (Kempton, 6f) off this same mark; consistent sort.

Form: 343332

(5)

Bugler Bob¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Megan Nicholls| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 70| CD

7/1

C&D winner in April on his seasonal/AW debut showing improved form to open his account off a 2lb higher mark. Form rather uneven since (with/without headgear); took a step back in the right direction returning to this C&D last time; suited by track.

Form: 060773

(1)

Choosey^t²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: G C O'Neill| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 70| D

22/1

Scored on his first AW start for this yard over 5f at Wolverhampton causing something of a surprise despite the reduced mark (suited by the race scenario). Has scored off this sort of mark in the past over 6f; interesting if able to repeat that form.

Form: 0-98441

(11)

Ower Fly^b¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Paula Muir| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 67| D

40/1

Well behind three of today's rivals over C&D last time finishing well held; that run rather sums up his season so far which has seen him fail to win despite a falling mark. Now allowed another ease in the weights but needs to show some spark.

Form: 650870

(12)

Lucky Lodge^v⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 8-13| J: Harry Russell| T: A Brittain| OR: 66| CD

8/1

Dual C&D winner who has yet to get off the mark this year despite numerous chances to do so; went close to ending his drought at Wolverhampton (7f) last time. Has won off a higher mark over C&D in the past; looks vulnerable to less-exposed sorts.

Form: 543932

(4)

Penny Pot Lane^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Gavin Ashton| T: R M Whitaker| OR: 63| D

28/1

Dual 6f winner on turf this year she's yet to reach the frame in five AW starts (0-3 over C&D). Ran poorly when last seen over when making a rare appearance over 5f at Pontefract; faces plenty who appear better suited by this surface.

Form: 427410

(13)

Kaafy²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Rowan Scott| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 62

6/1

Maiden handicapper who came back to some sort of form over C&D last time (first try on AW) when taking third in a strongly-run contest which suited him well. Off the same mark but no guarantee he will get the same scenario in a stronger contest.

Form: 862473

(9)

Global Humor⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Ben Robinson| T: J S Goldie| OR: 61

16/1

Failed to live up to expectations for Tristan Davidson in two starts for that yard having arrived there after a wind op over 7f (had plenty to do at the weights last time). Only win came over 7f; often travels well but found wanting at the death.

Form: 420-683

(2)

Ricochet¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Gabriele Malune| T: T Ward| OR: 60

12/1

Formerly with Jamie Osborne he remains a maiden but did run his best race in four starts for his yard at Windsor (6f, heavy) last time. Four AW starts have all come on Polytrack so this will be a different test in a tougher grade than usual.

Form: 627393

Non-Runners

(10)

Epeius¹⁴

Weight: 9-7| Age: 6

T: B Haslam J: Ben Robinson

Forecasts

Epeius (11/2), Kaafy (6/1), Ascended (13/2), Bugler Bob (7/1), Mr Buttons (7/1), Lucky Lodge (8/1), Metallic Black (8/1), Daafr (17/2), Ricochet (12/1), Global Humor (16/1), Choosey (22/1), Penny Pot Lane (28/1), Jonboy (33/1), Ower Fly (40/1)

A fair puzzle to start the nine-race card with four of the field having meet here recently in a race that saw EPEIUS finish second to an unexposed sort who has run well under a penalty since. Ben Haslam’s charge could well confirm the form here and with no progressive types in the race seal his fifth C&D win. Bugler Bob was just behind in the third with Ascended back in fifth in that aforementioned contest and both that pair should once again get into the shake-up. Mr Buttons Is consistent but passed over for win purposes given his mark and win/run ratio while Choosey would be of more interest were it not for a stall 1 draw. Dual C&D winner Lucky Lodge is also worth a mention in dispatches.