17:00 Newcastle

Friday 6 December 2019

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

Betway Handicap

Off time: 17:03 | Winning time: 1m 13.07s

(7)

El Hombre⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 90| CD

8/1

Support for him in the market when he was fourth to the improving Power Link (who has since gone in again) when fourth at Wolverhampton (6f; standard). Third in the Gosforth Park Cup when last seen at this track in June. Claims for in-form yard.

Form: 243304

(5)

Glenamoy Lad^t⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: F Norton| T: M Wigham| OR: 89| CD

8/1

4lb below the mark he scored off over C&D back in October. Has been running in Meydan/some top-class sprint handicaps since that victory. Been given a 76-day break, and the slight ease in grade could revitalise him.

Form: 887660

(11)

Heath Charnock¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: M Dods| OR: 86| BF| CD

3/1

Tremendously consistent sort who is yet to win since switched to handicaps, but he has been very competitive on each of his starts in this sphere. Well-fancied when third in a slightly higher-grade at Chelmsford (6f; standard) recently. Big chance.

Form: 123423

(3)

Brushwork³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 85| CD

13/2

The one in this race who lines up with an element of star quality. Unbeaten in two starts (both of those wins coming over C&D). Now enters the handicap ranks, but could turn out to be a group horse in time. The one to beat.

Form: 11

(8)

Big Les⁶^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Hart| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 80| C| D

10/1

Followed-up victory over 5f at this track when successful at Wolverhampton (5f; standard) last month. Both of those victories came in a lower grade though, so he has work to do off a mark he has never won off in the past.

Form: 806011

(1)

Fendale¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 82| C

40/1

Won over 5f at this track at the start of the year before finishing second to Primo's Comet. Not been in the same form since then, but he may have needed the run when down the field here last month on return from a break.

Form: 128547

(10)

Shallow Hal^p²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 82| D

14/1

0-3 on the AW but did go close over C&D as a two-year-old last season. Just behind Kupa River over C&D last time out. Could reverse those placings but he has not been in sparkling form this season.

Form: 604707

(2)

Doc Sportello¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 81| CD

25/1

C&D winner who likes it here. Not disgraced when last seen at Lingfield (5f; standard), but the step back up in trip looks the right move. Still 9lb above last winning mark, but the return to this venue could see him run well.

Form: 638215

(12)

Commander Han^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: S C Williams| OR: 80

7/2

Runner-up to Big Les over 5f at this track last month (who has since gone in again). That was his first ever try at 5f for new stable. Steps back up to 6f now, but he has never really threatened in this grade before.

Form: 083842

(14)

Howzer Black^p³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Shane Gray| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 80| D

25/1

Unexposed on the AW (only had the three starts on the surface). However, he would need to improve on his recent effort at Newmarket (7f; heavy) when fifth in a slightly lower grade. Has never won off a mark as high as this either.

Form: 370425

(9)

Primo's Comet¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Phil Dennis| T: J S Goldie| OR: 79| C

22/1

Two-time course winner over 5f. Posted an excellent effort on his penultimate start when fourth at Goodwood (6f; good to firm) in the Stewards' Cup consolation race. Not as good here last time, but may have needed it after a short break.

Form: 625348

(6)

Glorious Charmer¹⁷⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: T Eaves| T: M Herrington| OR: 79| BF| D

100/1

This represents a step up in grade, and he proved to be slightly underwhelming when last seen at Windsor (5f; good). Has a bit to prove as he hasn't been seen since that effort which came back in June.

Form: 1714-54

(13)

Kupa River^h²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 78| D

25/1

Finished a close-up fifth in a competitive race over C&D last month. This is tougher, but it would be foolish to write him off completely given his mostly consistent record overall in these types of races.

Form: 313305

(4)

Black Friday^p³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: L Morris| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 76

28/1

Shed maiden tag two starts ago but that came over further in a lower grade than this at Musselburgh (7f; soft). Still 7l above last winning mark, but he ran better than the finishing position would suggest when fourth at Catterick (6f; heavy).

Form: 325614

Forecasts

Heath Charnock (3/1), Commander Han (7/2), Brushwork (13/2), El Hombre (8/1), Glenamoy Lad (8/1), Big Les (10/1), Shallow Hal (14/1), Primo's Comet (22/1), Kupa River (25/1), Howzer Black (25/1), Doc Sportello (25/1), Black Friday (28/1), Fendale (40/1), Glorious Charmer (100/1)

A fascinating lineup in the feature race of the evening, with Kupa River and Glenamoy Lad considered for a place. The former did well to finish fifth over C&D when last seen, and the latter is eased in grade on his return to action. It is impossible to write off Heath Charnock given the consistent record he has shown in this grade this season. However, the one they all have to beat is BRUSHWORK who is 2-2 and now begins handicapping with the potential to turn out a fair bit better than an 85-rated creature. Both of his wins have been achieved over C&D and his trainer holds an impressive 23% strike-rate at this track (13-57).