15:45 Newcastle

Wednesday 18 December 2019

All15:4516:1516:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:15

Bombardier British Hopped Amber Beer Handicap

Off time: 15:48 | Winning time: 1m 36.76s

(14)

Reaver³⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Shane Gray| T: J Hodge| OR: 74| D

66/1

Made a good debut start for this yard when fifth of 11 at Dundalk and bettered that when keeping-on third (1m2f) at that track last time. Down 3lb and could be thereabouts once again.

Form: 8503/53-

(6)

Coolagh Magic⁷⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: C J McGovern⁽³⁾| T: S Spencer| OR: 74| C

40/1

Previous course winner who was in good form for former yard but not the same since. Including when never-nearer eighth over 7f here in October. Bounce back is now required.

Form: 643288

(4)

Bobby Biscuit⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J F Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 73| BF| D

5/2

In fine form for new yard, winning 1m Lingfield handicap before narrowly denied off 3lb higher mark at Chelmsford (1m) last time out. Goes 1lb further up in the handicap but is a leading contender.

Form: 0-65612

(13)

Oud Metha Bridge²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 73| CD

18/1

Course and distance winner in the past and has won twice on turf this year. Not in as good form since and disappointed when 15L 10th at Kempton (1m) on latest start. Dropped 2lb in the handicap.

Form: 216640

(11)

Thaayer¹⁵⁸

8/1

Sole win so far came over C&D a year ago but largely disappointing since. Last seen finishing last of 12 at Chester in July and makes stable debut after having a wind operation. Best watched for now.

Form: 331-670

(3)

Dutch Pursuit¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Menzies| OR: 73| C

33/1

Racked up two wins at this track last winter but failed to progress from that, including 6L seventh at Kempton (7f) earlier this month. Tumbling down the handicap and has fallen to a dangerous mark however.

Form: 1-18987

(1)

Ascot Week^v²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 72| CD

9/1

Has usually been running up to his marks this year, going down by a head at Ayr two starts ago before fine 1L second over C&D after a short break. Looks well treated and is a dangerous sort.

Form: 173522

(10)

Papa Stour^t1¹³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: P J McDonald| T: S C Williams| OR: 71

10/1

Sole win came at Wolverhampton in January and slowly falling down the handicap since. Not beaten far in sixth at Chelmsford last time and makes some appeal off a 3lb lower mark than when he last won.

Form: 08-3696

(2)

Champagne Rules¹⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: Phil Dennis| T: Mrs S A Watt| OR: 70| C

80/1

Proved to reliable in the first half of last year but form has subsequently tailed off since. Last seen finishing last of 8 at Pontefract in July (1m) and is 3lb higher than last winning mark. Of interest when lower in handicap.

Form: 261068

(12)

Insurplus¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: J S Goldie| OR: 70| BF| CD

7/1

Fine performer at this track, winning over 7f here in September and bounced back from poor effort to finish third over C&D last time. Solid claims if backing that effort up off the same mark.

Form: 151043

(7)

Vive La Difference^b¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 70| CD

8/1

Looks to be starting to hit a good patch of form after a long losing run, finishing second over 7f here before brave success in C&D claimer last time out. This tougher though and beaten rival last time is 1lb better off.

Form: 744821

(8)

Dancing Rave¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 70

11/1

Tends to save her best races for this track and proved any doubts about stamina wrong last time when second behind Vive La Difference over C&D on latest start. 1lb better off this time but needs slightly more.

Form: 632842

(9)

Mango Chutney¹³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: S H James| T: J J Davies| OR: 67| D

50/1

Hasn't won since May 2018 and out of form this season, finishing down the field in his last two starts including at Catterick (7f). Back up to 1m but this looks a tough ask on paper.

Form: 036-700

(5)

Destroyer⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: J P Sullivan| T: T P Tate| OR: 65| D

12/1

Losing stretch dates back to August 2018 and well beaten in his last two starts, including 15L sixth over C&D in October. Has plenty to prove now.

Form: 087306

Forecasts

Bobby Biscuit (5/2), Insurplus (7/1), Vive La Difference (8/1), Thaayer (8/1), Ascot Week (9/1), Papa Stour (10/1), Dancing Rave (11/1), Destroyer (12/1), Oud Metha Bridge (18/1), Dutch Pursuit (33/1), Coolagh Magic (40/1), Mango Chutney (50/1), Reaver (66/1), Champagne Rules (80/1)

A trappy-looking opener, preference is for ASCOT WEEK, who has proven to be a reliable sort in this company in the past and showed himself to be in good heart over C&D last time. Off a likeable mark he could be able to get his head back in front. Bobby Biscuit remains the least exposed for a powerful yard, but it looks like the handicapper is refusing to give him many chances at this level now, while the likes of top weight Reaver and Insurplus bounced back in their last starts and have to respected if they can back them up.