15:20 Newcastle

Saturday 21 December 2019

All12:0012:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:20

bet365 'Junior' Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 15:22 | Winning time: 3m 44.0s

Let Me Be⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish

5/6

Quickened clear in very likeable fashion when successful on debut at Aintree (2m1f; soft) last month. Represents in-form yard with 32% strike-rate at this track. The one they all have to aim at despite conceding weight to all of his rivals.

Form: 1

Blackwest

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Alain Cawley| T: M & D Easterby

10/3

Montmartre gelding who cost €34,000 as a three-year-old. Yard are out of form and aren't readily associated with winning newcomers in bumpers. Watching brief advised with this debutante.

Form:

Brickadank

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond

16/1

Son of Cape Cross. Sales price went down from €40,000 as a foal to €1,000 as a two-year-old. Holds more of a flat pedigree, and is unlikely to play a leading role first time out for connections.

Form:

Maharashtra⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Herrington

50/1

Cannot be recommended after the way he ran on debut at Market Rasen (1m5f; good to soft) when tailed off. Yard are 0-15 in the last two weeks. Look elsewhere for more viable alternatives.

Form: 8

Whowonthetoss

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: A L T Moore

8/1

Respected for shrewd Irish yard who have only ever had the one runner at this track. By Makfi. Half-brother to a pair of French winners. .Market check strongly advised for this newcomer.

Form:

Grey Expectations

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett

33/1

By Proclamation and is a half-sister to three winners including the useful NH type Ignotus. Her dam was a three-time bumper winner as well so it will be interesting to see what the market makes of her on debut.

Form:

On My Command

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Mr N McParlan⁽³⁾| T: S R B Crawford

6/1

Newcomer by War Command who cost €40,000 as a yearling and is a half-sister to four winners. Irish trainer doesn't waste his time sending runners to this country. Definite claims.

Form:

Non-Runners

It'llcomein

Weight: 10-12| Age: 3

T: R A Fahey J: Jamie Hamilton

Forecasts

Let Me Be (5/6), Blackwest (10/3), It'llcomein (7/2), On My Command (6/1), Whowonthetoss (8/1), Brickadank (16/1), Grey Expectations (33/1), Maharashtra (50/1)

Although he must shoulder a 7lb penalty, it is hard to get away from the sole winner in this field in the shape of LET ME BE who won in the style of a good horse when off the mark at the first attempt at Aintree last month. He can maintain his 100% record for the in-form duo of Keith Dalgleish and Brian Hughes. There are a few interesting newcomers in the line-up, namely Grey Expectations whose pedigree is an attractive one for bumpers (dam a three-time bumper winner). The Irish pair of Whowonthetoss and On My Command, as well as It'llcomein are respected coming from the sources they do and that trio could feature if the market speaks positively for them.