18:30 Newcastle

Thursday 16 January 2020

All15:5516:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:00

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 18:33 | Winning time: 1m 12.36s

(9)

Grayboy^p1³⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Raul Da Silva| T: D H Brown| OR: 62

40/1

From fair sprinting family, he showed a little promise on his final juvenile start at Redcar (6f) in June 2018. Only one run since then (stable debut), ten months ago at Southwell (7f) when well beaten. Keep an eye on the betting for handicap debut.

Form: 677/8-

(1)

Crash Helmet¹¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lee| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 60| CD

50/1

Off the mark third time out (C&D) in September 2018. Ran well on handicap debut the following month before joining this yard in May 2018 for £1,200. Hasn't beaten a rival in both runs since and others preferred for now.

Form: 2215/89-

(10)

De Bruyne Horse¹⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Phil Dennis| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 59| D

12/1

Listed winner as a juvenile and rating peaked at 101. Moved yard three times and makes another stable debut. Form has been regressive since his juvenile days and hard to recommend that for all he is thrown-in if rediscovering any of his old form.

Form: 709/007-

(5)

Avenue Of Stars^v²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: C Lee| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 56| CD

4/1

Racing off a career-low mark after a quiet spell in recent months. Shaped a little better on his last three runs, including here the last twice. Visor back on (worn on last three wins) & doesn't need much more to get involved.

Form: 708566-

(12)

Kommander Kirkup²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: T Eaves| T: M Herrington| OR: 56| D

10/1

Has been placed twice over C&D but all four AW wins, and his best form, has come on the Fibresand at Southwell. Improved with each of his three runs after a seven-month break and likely to go well; has place claims.

Form: 904065-

(4)

Puchita^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 54

6/1

30-race maiden who has been placed once in five starts at this course; her best AW form has come at Wolverhampton. Has been running well of late in defeat but still requires a career-best to gain that elusive first win.

Form: 23832-3

(3)

Gunmaker¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 52

9/2

Placed off a 15lb higher mark over C&D last April, his third start for this yard. Form took a nosedive after that, but did return to some form when ¾L third at Chelmsford (7f) last time. Too well handicapped to entirely dismiss.

Form: 89696-3

(2)

Lord Of The Glen²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Corey Madden⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 47| C

6/1

Three-time course winner (all 5f) who has been consistent in his last three starts here. Too keen when weakening late on over C&D last time and his record over 6f now reads 0-11. Is 25lb below his last winning mark but this trip is a concern.

Form: 686423-

(13)

Star Cracker^p³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 46| CD

22/1

Six-time winner (including C&D) who was beaten just ¾L into second over 5f here two runs ago. Couldn't match that form last time when only ninth and his inconsistency makes him hard to trust.

Form: 775729-

(11)

Someone Exciting¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: Harrison Shaw⁽³⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 46| D

14/1

Won at Catterick (6f) off 6lb higher in August but has been in the doldrums mostly since then, including at this course on her last two runs (7f/5f). Record on the AW is 0-14 and is easily passed over. Also declared 3:00 Wolverhampton Wednesday.

Form: 08497-9

(6)

Meshardal^p⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 8-7| J: S H James| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 45| D

8/1

Veteran 10-time winner who has been placed on two of his last three starts at Chelmsford and Southwell (both 6f). Hasn't won since July 2017 and his form has been on the downgrade as age catches up with him; younger legs likely to be too good.

Form: 53827-3

(7)

Darwina¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁵⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 45| D

22/1

Landed a seller as a juvenile for Karl Burke in 2018 but hasn't been able to match that form since that run. Drops to this trip for only the second time since that victory but losing run is mounting up and hard to be enthusiastic on recent exploits.

Form: 65007-4

Non-Runners

(14)

Loretta²⁸

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: Miss J A Camacho J: Callum Rodriguez

(8)

Mitchum³⁸

Weight: 8-7| Age: 11

T: R E Barr J: Miss Sophie Smith

Forecasts

Avenue Of Stars (4/1), Gunmaker (9/2), Puchita (6/1), Lord Of The Glen (6/1), Loretta (6/1), Meshardal (8/1), Kommander Kirkup (10/1), De Bruyne Horse (12/1), Someone Exciting (14/1), Star Cracker (22/1), Darwina (22/1), Grayboy (40/1), Crash Helmet (50/1), Mitchum (66/1)

Another tricky handicap with little recent form of note. Despite only showing a glimmer of ability in her four starts, LORETTA, is far more unexposed than most of these and with cheekpieces added on her handicap debut, she is capable of better. Gunmaker is well handicapped on his early-2019 form and shaped better at Chelmsford last time whilst Avenue Of Stars can make the frame with visor back on. Keep an eye on the betting for Grayboy on his handicap debut also.