14:15 Newcastle

Thursday 12 December 2019

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

Border Minstrel Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 4m 14.70s

The Black Squirrel⁵⁰⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-3| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: H Hogarth| OR: 102| D

12/1

Bumper winner who was runner-up on his first two starts in handicaps for Warren Greatrex in early 2018/19, but below form on last two starts for that yard before being sold cheaply. Bit to prove for new connections.

Form: 57/22P6-

Ilaya^h,t1¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-3| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 102

7/1

Now 4lb lower than when a fair third at Wetherby (2m, good/soft) in March, but below form on all three starts this season. Drops in class with a tongue tie fitted, and feasible that she will bounce back in a modest contest.

Form: 463-906

Old Jewry¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Bourke| OR: 101

20/1

Standout effort when third over fences at Kelso in September. Soundly beaten otherwise, however, and hard to back with confidence on this handicap debut, for all he can't be taken lightly.

Form: 5-47304

Canny Style^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 97| D

8/1

Scored at Sedgefield last term, but she has been below her best this season, albeit not disgraced. This is an easier task than some she's faced, but she does need to put her best foot forward, nonetheless.

Form: 4F86-65

Pistol³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr John Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: J E Dixon| OR: 95| DWS

13/2

Veteran who wins his share, although on something of a barren run. Has had wind surgery since running badly at Hexham last month, and that could be a catalyst for a return to form. Well handicapped if that is the case.

Form: 424-436

King's Coinage^t¹⁸⁵

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

9/1

Showed a fair level of ability in qualifying, although yet to build on that in three handicap runs. Assessor quick to relent, however, and he's very fairly treated if bouncing back.

Form: 853F-66

Hey Bob^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Dowson| T: C Grant| OR: 89| D

7/1

Quirky sort who ran his best race in a while when winning well at Sedgefield in October. Typically failed to back that up at Hexham next time, however, and he's not one to take short odds about.

Form: 245516

Spirit Of Dreams^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: H Burns| OR: 87

66/1

Unproven beyond 7f on the Flat, and has not offered a great deal of encouragement so far over hurdles. easy enough to pass him over again.

Form: 7-080

Calliope^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: C O'Farrell| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 86

9/2

Front-runner who is operating below her best at present, although has still performed respectably in her last three starts in similar events, and perhaps the removal of her usual hood will prove decisive.

Form: 5-03555

Flaming Glory²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: K Scott| OR: 86

6/1

Has bits and pieces of form over timber which would give him place claims, but he is not progressing at present, and his latest effort was very poor.

Form: 068-94P

Donald Dux^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: J Kington| T: A Crook| OR: 81

16/1

Soundly beaten in bumpers and on all three starts over hurdles, and while he may do better now handicapping at a lowly level, it's not easy to make any kind of case for him on form,

Form: 04-98

Outback Blue^v¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 71

8/1

Placed just once in 16 starts over hurdles, and while he would look well treated on the pick of his efforts in this sphere, he's not easy to support on recent evidence.

Form: 74-6958

Non-Runners

Oceanus²⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: Mrs Dianne Sayer J: Danny McMenamin

Forecasts

Calliope (9/2), Flaming Glory (6/1), Pistol (13/2), Ilaya (7/1), Hey Bob (7/1), Canny Style (8/1), Outback Blue (8/1), Oceanus (8/1), King's Coinage (9/1), The Black Squirrel (12/1), Donald Dux (16/1), Old Jewry (20/1), Spirit Of Dreams (66/1)

Every one of these needs excuses to be accepted before they can be backed, but the handicapper has handed out a few lifelines, not least to KING'S COINAGE, who has dropped 10lb for two completed handicap starts, and is well treated on the form he showed last season. He gets a rather tentative pick ahead of Pistol, who knows how to win and may have benefited from a recent breathing operation. Dianne Sayer has a pair of whom Calliope makes most appeal, but the market will be revealing.