12:40 Newcastle

Thursday 12 December 2019

All12:4013:1013:4514:1514:5015:20

'Follow The Race To Westminster bonusbets.co.uk/uk-election' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 5m 25.20s

McCrackens Gate²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J Kington| T: Justin Landy| OR: 96

7/2

Patchy form for Tom Gibney in Ireland, but immediately back to form for new yard when third of 14 to Casimir du Clos in a 2½m handicap hurdle at Hexham last month. This is no tougher, and he should remain competitive.

Form: 07056-3

Geordielandgangsta³²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 95

20/1

Poor form in qualifying, but is bred for stamina, and unsuited by shorter trips thus far. Fared better than the result at Kelso in January, and yard adept at readying one after a break, so improvement expected now handicapping after a break.

Form: P267/78-

The Sting^p1⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: H Hogarth| OR: 91

18/1

Improved when third on handicap debut at Carlisle in March, but failed to match that form on next two starts, the latest after a break. Now tried in cheekpieces, and needs to step up.

Form: 64538-9

The Pine Martin⁹²²

33/1

Successful in a good ground novices handicap hurdle at Hexham (2m) in May 2017 but absent since finishing second there the following month. Had wind surgery in the interim, and claims if returning from a long break fully fit.

Form: FU3612/

Honourmission^p1,t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 90

20/1

Hasn't taken to fences on recent starts, and balance of his form in this discipline suggests he's still too high in the weights. Cheekpieces added to tongue tie now, but he has plenty to prove.

Form: 0-UP5PP

Vintage Glen^t1⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 86

12/1

Yet to show much in the way of ability, although was making some headway when hampered on handicap debut at Wetherby last month. May do better, but appears yard's second string behind Geordielandgangsta.

Form: 4/8900-6

Seapoint²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 85| BF

11/1

In frame over fences and hurdles at Market Rasen this autumn, looking as if the trip stretched her over 2m7f there last time. Has eased to a fair mark, and easy to see her getting competitive with a drop in trip likely to help her cause.

Form: 26-4373

Innis Shannon⁶²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 84| D

33/1

Won a Hexham maiden hurdle in November 2015, but lightly raced and little form since. Returns from a lengthy absence here, and while her mark has tumbled, she is very hard to fancy.

Form: 8FPP3P/

Starplex³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 82| BF| C

5/2

Back to form when runner-up on the Flat at Musselburgh (1m5f, heavy) in October, and would have been closer but for a late blunder when second of 14 to Excalibur in conditionals event at Sedgefield last month. Leading claims on that effort.

Form: 80P6-42

Meldrum Way³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: Mark Campion| OR: 81

20/1

Failed to cut any ice over hurdles in Ireland for Harry Kelly, and no more promise in a couple of outings for present connections this autumn.

Form: 0/90-P67

Epsom Des Mottes⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 80

20/1

Has shown little solid form over hurdles, and while he did show up better for a long way at Carlisle last time, he still ended up well beaten, and needs to dig deeper to get involved.

Form: P0-958

Hot Gossip^b1²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 78

12/1

Below form on both starts this season, but possible she's still working up fitness, and is 2lb lower than when a good second in the mud at Ayr a year ago. Could go well if blinkers have a galvanising effect.

Form: V652-64

Modulus^b²⁵⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: A Nicol| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 70| C| D

7/2

Long time since this gelding showed his form over hurdles, although won four from five in the spring of 2017, including here, and now an astonishing 38lb below his last winning mark. Starts off for a new yard here, and mark will tell a story.

Form: V6076P-

Perseid³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Mr Aiden Blakemore⁽⁷⁾| T: B Butterworth| OR: 66| D

16/1

Largely well beaten this season while showing signs that a little ability remains. Not entirely disgraced when racing from out of the handicap last time,. but similar story here, and others stronger again.

Form: 96-7676

Forecasts

Starplex (5/2), McCrackens Gate (7/2), Modulus (7/2), Seapoint (11/1), Vintage Glen (12/1), Hot Gossip (12/1), Perseid (16/1), The Sting (18/1), Geordielandgangsta (20/1), Honourmission (20/1), Meldrum Way (20/1), Epsom Des Mottes (20/1), Innis Shannon (33/1), The Pine Martin (33/1)

STARPLEX is clearly the one to beat with Brian Hughes on board for the in-form Keith Dalgleish yard, and he was clear of the others when a solid second at Sedgefield last time. McCrackens Gate and Seapoint have obvious place claims, while Geordlielandgangsta is open to plenty of improvement now handicapping up in trip.