13:55 Newcastle

Thursday 21 November 2019

All13:2013:5514:2515:0015:3016:0516:35

Betway Heed Your Hunch Handicap

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 2m 44.91s

(1)

Sir Chauvelin¹⁹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Ben Robinson| T: J S Goldie| OR: 101| CD

50/1

Off for 190 days after finishing last in typically competitive big-field handicap at York (1m2f; good to firm). Mark is dropping, but he is still 3lb above the one he won off at Goodwood (1m6f; good to firm) last year. Opposed for now.

Form: 166-670

(6)

Deja¹⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: P Mulrennan| T: P W Chapple-Hyam| OR: 100| D

5/2

Has obviously been difficult to train, but seemingly has a lot of ability, as shown when he made a winning seasonal return back in July. 7lb higher but looks a group horse in the making and is still lightly raced.

Form: 51/11-1

(5)

Francis Xavier⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: C Lee| T: K Frost| OR: 99| C| D

12/1

C&D winner. Only had the five starts this season, and produced another respectable effort when runner-up at Pontefract (1m2f; good to soft) last time. Must defy another 2lb rise in the weights though, which doesn't make things any easier.

Form: 1-70512

(7)

Spanish Archer^h⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 98

11/2

0-3 on the AW (including an odds-on reverse here last August), but has been in consistent form the last thrice. Off the same mark as when runner-up at Leicester (1m4f; heavy) in a competitive race. Firmly in the mix.

Form: 22-0132

(3)

Paths Of Glory^t³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J Mitchell| T: H Palmer| OR: 96| CD

11/8

C&D winner who completed hat-trick of handicap wins at Wolverhampton (1m4f; standard) by the slimmest of margins last month. That was a fiercely competitive contest, and although he is 7lb higher, he should make a bold bid to notch the four-timer.

Form: 210111

(8)

Lunar Jet⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: J Fanning| T: J Mackie| OR: 92

22/1

Been set some pretty stiff tasks this year, and this is slightly less hot than the contest he finished sixth in at Haydock (1m2f; soft) last time out. Still 1lb above last winning mark though, and not open to as much improvement as others.

Form: 732066

(4)

Seafarer^b¹⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: B A Curtis| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 89| CD

10/1

Only AW success came when he won this race last year. Out of form this season though, and hasn't been seen since being pulled-up at Newbury (1m4f; good to soft) in June. Too much to prove to recommend on this comeback run.

Form: 55266P

(2)

Archi's Affaire⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: A Mullen| T: M Dods| OR: 87| D

28/1

Best to forgive only run on the AW which came at this track in a maiden over 5f. Made giant strides as a handicapper since then, and was last seen finishing third at Ripon (1m4f; good to soft) in September. This is a tougher race on paper.

Form: 13-9493

Forecasts

Paths Of Glory (11/8), Deja (5/2), Spanish Archer (11/2), Seafarer (10/1), Francis Xavier (12/1), Lunar Jet (22/1), Archi's Affaire (28/1), Sir Chauvelin (50/1)

This is a quality contest in which it is very difficult to split the frequent winning pair of DEJA & Paths Of Glory. Despite the fact he is obviously a delicate type, the former is narrowly preferred. He goes well fresh and looked a colt with major potential when winning his only start this season at Kempton back in July. The latter made it a hat-trick of victories last month, and although he has been raised 7lb for winning by a short-head, he looks the chief threat to the selection. Francis Xavier must be considered for a place after he made a bold bid to follow up his Ascot win when runner-up at Pontefract. He is fancied ahead of Spanish Archer whose AW record is off-putting.