17:30 Newcastle

Friday 22 November 2019

All15:3016:0016:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:00

Ladbrokes Home Of The Odds Boost Nursery

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 1m 44.25s

(7)

Island Storm⁴⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: J Mitchell| T: H Main| OR: 74| CD

9/4

Landed C&D maiden auction stakes penultimate start prior to failing to see out the 1m2f at Nottingham last time when he lost a tooth during the race. Return here makes sense and has been eased 2lb.

Form: 7318

(3)

Sky Vega^t1⁵³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: T Ward| OR: 73

11/2

Showed some ability on all four starts for Richard Hannon but twice beaten favourite, once at odds-on. Makes debut for new connections now and has first-time tongue-tie to help him. Trying a mile for the first time.

Form: 5335

(6)

Genever Dragon^p³²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Jane Elliott| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 72

5/1

Showed some promise in two starts over 7f this summer prior to break, and found the testing Pontefract mile and soft ground against him on recent return. Dropped 2lb and may be seen in better light on this surface.

Form: 7739

(5)

Big City^p1⁴⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 70

33/1

Landed 6f Nottingham heavy ground novice event for Saeed Bin Suroor this summer but hasn't shone this autumn in two starts for current yard. Hard to enthuse over on recent form despite 4lb drop.

Form: 01508

(4)

Castlehill Retreat¹⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mulrennan| T: B Haslam| OR: 69| C

15/8

Stepped up from 5f to 7f last time and stayed on bravely to score narrowly here off 4lb lower mark. Tackles extra furlong now and interesting to see if he sees it out in this better race.

Form: 3961

(1)

Brainchild³⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 8-13| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 66

12/1

Three runs so far hinting at ability in contests over 5f and 6f. Steps up to a mile on handicap debut and would not surprise to see here improve for the longer trip. Worth a market check.

Form: 845

(2)

Jazz Style⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 8-0| J: Cam Hardie| T: D H Brown| OR: 48

50/1

Yet to reach a place in seven attempts and despite having been give a chance by the handicapper doesn't look good enough to trouble the principals at this level.

Form: 809065

Non-Runners

(8)

Warne's Army¹⁶

Weight: 9-9| Age: 2

T: C & M Johnston J: J Fanning

Forecasts

Castlehill Retreat (15/8), Island Storm (9/4), Warne's Army (3/1), Genever Dragon (5/1), Sky Vega (11/2), Brainchild (12/1), Big City (33/1), Jazz Style (50/1)

A trappy affair but a race in which GENEVER DRAGON may be worth chancing having failed to handle soft ground last time. Eased 2lb and on a surface that will suit better he just gets the vote. Top weight Warne's Army has shown enough to suggest she can win a race or two and is quite likely to go close, while a case can also be made for the likes of Island Storm, Brainchild, and recent 7f winner Castlehill Retreat. It will be interesting to see how the so far frustrating Sky Vega goes for new connections.