15:00 Newcastle

Monday 20 January 2020

All12:5513:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:00

Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 4m 18.00s

Stonific²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: R Johnson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 112

8/1

Placed on all three hurdles starts to date including when 21L third in a maiden event over 2m1f at Sedgefield (soft) in December. Stable have been in good form of late (4/17 in the last two weeks) and he is one to note on handicap debut.

Form: 233

Paper Roses⁷²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 109

20/1

Making her seasonal reappearance when finishing 24L sixth in a 2m5f handicap hurdle at Kelso (heavy) in November. Finished lame that day and is an interesting runner down in trip.

Form: 54/242-6

Dubai Days²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: N W Alexander| OR: 107

9/4

Has placed three times from as many starts since joining this yard from Ireland most recently when 12L second in a 2m novice hurdle at Kelso (soft) at the end of last month. Interesting contender on handicap debut.

Form: 5P-2332

Bestiarius⁹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Ross Chapman| T: G Boanas| OR: 107| DWS

12/1

Well beaten eighth in a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Carlisle (soft) in October. Had wind surgery since and market support would be notable on his return to action.

Form: 12U3/58

Ballydonagh Boy²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 104

5/1

Improving with racing and registered a career best effort when finishing 15L third in a 2m novice hurdle at Kelso (soft) just over three weeks ago. Worth a check in the market on handicap debut.

Form: 23-753

Kauto D'Amour²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 104

5/1

Good 1¼L in a 2m4f maiden hurdle at Hexham (heavy) on his penultimate start but struggled when 21L fifth upped to an extended 3m1f at Catterick (soft) on handicap debut subsequently. Dropping markedly in distance on this occasion.

Form: 450725

Western Lass³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: K Scott| OR: 90

14/1

Ten race maiden finished a fair 15½L ffith in a handicap hurdle on soft ground over this C&D last time out. Probably best watched at present.

Form: 3/04-075

Emissaire^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 90

28/1

Sole victory in 12 races to date came when winning a bumper on debut in April 2018. Failed to finish on his last three starts over fences and others make more appeal on his return to hurdling.

Form: 76-3PUU

My Strong Man³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 96

7/2

Maiden after six starts and was beaten 18L when seventh in a juvenile hurdle over an extended 1m7f at Catterick (good-to-soft) last month. Market support would be notable on first start in handicap company.

Form: 457

Juals Spirit⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: B Ellison| OR: 91

22/1

13 race maiden under all codes and failed to back up a promising second at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) on his penultimate start when finishing a well beaten fifth over the same C&D on handicap debut last time out. Races from out of the handicap.

Form: 425

Forecasts

Dubai Days (9/4), My Strong Man (7/2), Kauto D'Amour (5/1), Ballydonagh Boy (5/1), Stonific (8/1), Bestiarius (12/1), Western Lass (14/1), Paper Roses (20/1), Juals Spirit (22/1), Emissaire (28/1)

DUBAI DAYS is taken to make a winning handicap debut by taking this competitive looking novices' handicap hurdle. The selection has the forecast going to suit and he can improve on trainer Nick Alexander's 22% strike-rate (2/9) in the last two weeks with a success in this race. Top weight Stonific is another making his handicap debut and he can finish runner-up while third place can go to Kauto D'Amour who is dropping in distance having disappointed on his most recent start.