15:10 Newcastle

Saturday 14 December 2019

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Bombardier Britsh Hopped Amber Beer Handicap

Off time: 15:12 | Winning time: 1m 25.81s

(2)

Arctic Sound⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 105| D

14/1

Lightly campaigned in 2019 but flew the flag for Mark Johnston in the German 2,000 Guineas in May; was a gallant second there and had a subsequent Group 3 winner in behind. Top weight and the drop back to 7f conspire against him here.

Form: 11-5220

(9)

Above The Rest^h²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: B A Curtis| T: T D Barron| OR: 101| C| D

3/1

Highly experienced and is notably effective on the AW; does needs to put last month's poor run at Lingfield behind him but the switch to Tapeta isn't an issue. Worth a betting check.

Form: 097330

(7)

Straight Right^h¹⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: G Lee| T: A M Balding| OR: 100| CD

11/2

Not seen out since finishing down the field in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot but he's effective at this trip and has gone well when returning from a break in the past. Respected as a previous C&D winner and arrives fresher than some of his rivals.

Form: 5-22700

(6)

Muntadab¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: P Mulrennan| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 95| D

50/1

Suited by 7f and kept good company in a five-race campaign this year. Starting to get some respite from the handicapper but needs a big step up from his latest outing on the AW.

Form: 2-29687

(10)

Pinnata^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Jason Hart| T: S C Williams| OR: 94| CD

7/2

Exploited a lenient mark when winning at Leicester (1m, good) in August but form has been mixed since then. However, he had Straight Right in behind when he won here back in January and has to come into the reckoning on that evidence. Shortlisted.

Form: 212728

(1)

Intisaab^p,t¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 8-8| J: Shane Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 92| D

14/1

Very capable sprinter but losing run now stands at 19 since he landed the Scurry Stakes at The Curragh last year. Well handicapped but 7f stretches him to the limit.

Form: 039692

(4)

Finoah^v¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Jane Elliott| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 92| D

18/1

Capable over this trip and won twice on heavy ground over the distance at Haydock earlier in the year. The handicapper has been in charge since, though, and his last two starts have suggested he's currently weighted to the limit.

Form: 051485

(8)

Raydiance⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Harrison Shaw⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 91| D

13/2

Has a race of this nature within his compass but has been expensive to follow since his win at Redcar back in June. Set to race from just 1lb above that winning mark and no surprise to see him swoop late. Does need a lot to go his way, though.

Form: 435359

(3)

Aljari⁸¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: L Morris| T: M Botti| OR: 88

6/1

Lightly raced three-year-old who has won two of his four previous starts; was well held in his latest outing, though, and needs to conclusively prove himself over the trip. Stiff test in only his second outing in a handicap.

Form: 4115

(5)

Caballero⁴²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: A Mullen| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 87| D

33/1

Not seen since winning a nursery at Newmarket at the back-end of last season and, from a 5lb higher mark, he's pitched in at the deep end for his return to action. Also a concern that he lacks AW experience.

Form: 221771-

Forecasts

Above The Rest (3/1), Pinnata (7/2), Straight Right (11/2), Aljari (6/1), Raydiance (13/2), Intisaab (14/1), Arctic Sound (14/1), Finoah (18/1), Caballero (33/1), Muntadab (50/1)

STRAIGHT RIGHT is weighted to reverse January's C&D form with Pinnata and is the suggestion for a sporting punt in an open renewal of this race. He's in the same age bracket as previous winners and the fact he arrives fresher than many could be key factor. Pinnata is respected but he was never on terms last time and needs to bounce back from an uncharacteristic poor run. Raydiance has the ability to figure and a strong pace will ideally suit his style of running; granted luck in running he could be good value to at least make the frame. Support for Arctic Sound would also be interesting to note as he's another whose campaign has been light this year.