15:15 Newcastle

Friday 6 December 2019

All15:1515:5016:2517:0017:3018:0018:3019:00

Play 4 To Score Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 2m 41.8s

(11)

Hooflepuff^p¹⁰^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 59| D

7/2

Easily possesses the most likeable profile in this race, given he is the only runner who is reliably consistent. Regained the winning thread with a strong-staying performance at Wolverhampton (1m4f; standard) 10 days ago. Not yet fully exposed.

Form: 331441

(7)

Thawry³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 57| C

8/1

Holds a modest strike rate of just 1-28. Sole career win came over 1m2f at this track back in February. 13lb below that mark now and a return to form looked on the cards prior to his recent disappointment at Wolverhampton (1m1f; standard).

Form: 648449

(6)

Sulafaat^p⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Russell Harris⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 55| C

14/1

Tends to run well at this track, and it would be wise to forgive his latest below-par effort over C&D when last seen. Was placed over C&D twice before that, and should be able to bounce back.

Form: 021328

(13)

Imperial Focus³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Phil Dennis| T: S Waugh| OR: 55

22/1

Couldn't back up recent encouraging C&D run when dropped back in trip last month. Now returns to 1m4f, and needs to prove that was no fluke given his inconsistent profile. Place claims if able to do so.

Form: 469-040

(3)

Anchises⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: C Lee| T: R Menzies| OR: 54

66/1

Winless in 12 starts. Impossible to make a case for him given the defeats he has suffered recently, including over 1m2f here last time out. Failed to beat a single rival twice before that. Readily opposed.

Form: 397900

(10)

Mamdood^t¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Harrison Shaw⁽³⁾| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 54| CD

8/1

C&D winner at the end of October. Unable to follow that up when turned out quickly to avoid a penalty at Wolverhampton (1m4f; standard). Has gone onto post a pair of worse efforts in defeat last month.

Form: 931368

(14)

Sunhill Lad^b³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: A Mullen| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 52| BF

16/1

Yet to win either on the flat or over jumps. However, his recent runner-up effort to Herm (who has since gone in again) at Wolverhampton (1m4f; standard) last month gives him solid claims if he is able to reproduce that form.

Form: 9642-02

(4)

Nearly There^t⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: W Storey| OR: 52

20/1

Ground may have been to blame when he posted a below-par effort at Musselburgh (1m5f; soft) when 13th of 14. Went close over C&D last year off higher marks than this one. Place claims as he drops back slightly in trip.

Form: 135550

(8)

Spark Of War^v⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 51

15/2

0-17 overall. More promising fourth over 1m at this track last month was let down by an underwhelming effort at Lingfield (1m2f; standard) just eight days ago. Work to do upped a further two furlongs in trip.

Form: 624649

(12)

Accessor^p1⁷¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: F Norton| T: M Wigham| OR: 50

3/1

Has fallen 23lb in the handicap this season in seven starts. Steps back up to 1m4f which he ran over when sixth two starts ago. Latest effort was much less encouraging when 11th of 12 at Chelmsford (1m; standard). Hard to place any faith in him.

Form: 708560

(2)

Gworn²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 8-13| J: Aled Beech⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 47

33/1

Just behind Imperial Focus over C&D on his penultimate start. Took a backwards step at Southwell (1m4f; standard) last month though. Dropped 31lb below his last winning mark, but the return to this surface offers a glimmer of hope.

Form: 802457

(5)

Clayton Hall^p¹³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: G Lee| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 45

100/1

Makes return from 137-day break. Last seen when tailed off at Cartmel (2m1f; soft) over hurdles in July. Previous effort under this code the time before that was poor. Questions to answer on return to action.

Form: 658-640

(9)

Dolphin Village^h¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 8-11| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: S A Harris| OR: 45| D

40/1

Has now dropped 1lb below the mark he scored off at Wolverhampton (1m4f; standard) in February. Steps back up to that trip now after a handful of subsequently disappointing efforts. Inconsistent profile is quite unattractive.

Form: 157056

(1)

High Glory¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: J F Levins| OR: 46

14/1

Irish-raider who is 0-9 and is yet to show much enthusiasm in short career so far. Difficult to recommend after failing to improve for the switch to handicaps this season. Watching brief advised unless market suggests otherwise.

Form: 700808

Forecasts

Accessor (3/1), Hooflepuff (7/2), Spark Of War (15/2), Thawry (8/1), Mamdood (8/1), Sulafaat (14/1), High Glory (14/1), Sunhill Lad (16/1), Nearly There (20/1), Imperial Focus (22/1), Gworn (33/1), Dolphin Village (40/1), Anchises (66/1), Clayton Hall (100/1)

This a very low-grade contest and one that is unlikely to take too much winning. Nearly There and Sulafaat both posted below-par efforts when last seen. Given their consistent records overall, they have to be worth another chance of making the frame. As does Sunhill Lad whose recent piece of form when second at Wolverhampton has been boosted with the winner going in again on Monday. However, this looks a golden opportunity for the in-form and unexposed HOOFLEPUFF to notch a quick-fire double after demonstrating his strong-staying qualities when last seen. The return to this stiff track should suit, and he can make light work of a 3lb higher mark.