12:00 Newcastle

Friday 15 November 2019

All12:0012:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

Certax Durham Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:00 | Winning time: 6m 25.00s

Final Fling^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: A Nicol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 101| D

9/2

Twice successful on soft/heavy ground at Wetherby (3m) around the turn of the year; never near to challenge fourth to Court Baloo (winner since) on seasonal reappearance at Kelso (3m1½f); stablemate of Tailspin; each-way option.

Form: 35611/4

Tailspin²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 98| D

66/1

Boasts a 40% strike-rate (2-5) in point-to-points but arrives late to rules racing at the age of nine; 50-1 when a 20+L fourth of eight to Murphy's Law at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) three weeks ago; stablemate of Final Fling.

Form: 1P13/P4

Mr Love^p¹²^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: William Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 91

6/4

Came good at the third attempt for Dan Skelton when a decisive 15L winner at Huntingdon (3m1f, good); 7lb well in under a 7lb penalty (due a 14lb rise), and the 7lb claimer William Marshall is also enlisted; should win.

Form: 476-041

Dr Time^p²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 96

6/1

Eight-race maiden who has been kept busy during the summer months; one-paced third of nine to the Rebecca Curtis-trained Special Princess at Ffos Las (3m, soft) four weeks ago; competes from the same mark here.

Form: 7-88453

Bullion^h²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ross Chapman| T: J Ewart| OR: 92

14/1

Offered little over hurdles last season but was still travelling smoothly when unseating his rider four out on seasonal reappearance at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft); a waiting game to see if a second bout of wind surgery has worked the oracle.

Form: 65760-U

Grand Enterprise^p,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: H Hogarth| OR: 86| D

11/1

Struggles to win races (1-31 career), but has already finished runner-up on four occasions this year, including when beaten 3L by Tekiblue De L'Orme at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago; resolution?

Form: 2252U2

Our Cilla^b¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J Kington| T: A Crook| OR: 85

20/1

Finished a distant third to Quiet Penny over C&D in April (good to soft) and hasn't offered a great deal of positive vibes since; easing in the weights, but this seven-race hurdles maiden is readily overlooked.

Form: 053-907

Farlam King^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Thomas Dowson| T: M A Barnes| OR: 81

9/1

13-race maiden; has seemingly gone off the boil since a couple of second placed finishes in the spring (has related C&D form with Our Cilla); current stable form in his favour.

Form: 02-2466

Lammturner¹⁹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 81

16/1

5lb higher than when making all to score over an extreme trip at Sedgefield (3m3f, good to soft) in March; her ability to handle really testing conditions must be taken solely on trust (especially off a 190-day absence).

Form: 46616-5

Zakety Zak^p¹⁰⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C Grant| OR: 78

40/1

Wetherby winner (2m5½f, good) for James Turner in October 2016; hasn't been seen anywhere on a racecourse for fast-approaching three years (1072 days); monitor only now switched to Chris Grant.

Form: 507148/

Non-Runners

Petite Ganache¹⁴⁵

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: N G Richards J: B S Hughes

Kisumu⁷⁸

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: Micky Hammond J: Miss Becky Smith

Forecasts

Mr Love (6/4), Final Fling (9/2), Dr Time (6/1), Petite Ganache (13/2), Kisumu (7/1), Farlam King (9/1), Grand Enterprise (11/1), Bullion (14/1), Lammturner (16/1), Our Cilla (20/1), Zakety Zak (40/1), Tailspin (66/1)

With the greatest of respect to connections, there's ample deadwood in the opening race of the new jumps season at Gosforth Park and it's frankly impossible to look beyond the obvious claims of MR LOVE. Dan Skelton has clearly worked his magic on this new recruit, with the seven-year-old sauntering clear to win unchallenged by 15L at Huntingdon 12-days ago. 7lb well in under a 7lb penalty (is due a 14lb rise) he should really be disposing of these rather limited rivals with the minimum of fuss. With the Rose Dobbin string in fine form, the dual Wetherby scorer Final Fling could offer a more suitable each-way alternative.