16:00 Newcastle

Monday 20 January 2020

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

Border Minstrel Pub Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 6m 27.1s

Skipthescales^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 121| CD

7/2

C&D winner was making his seasonal and stable debut when finishing a good 11L third over an extended 2m5f at Wetherby (soft) last month. Likely to have improved for the run and is a notable runner in this race.

Form: 01162-3

The Delray Munky^p⁶⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 120| D

12/1

Completed a four timer when winning a 2m3f handicap hurdle at Haydock (soft) in March 2018. Absent since finished last of 17 in a Listed mares only handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (good) the following month. Probably best watched in this race.

Form: 811110/

Bryden Boy^p³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 118| D

7/1

Cheekpieces returned (retained since) when registering a 41L victory in a 3m3f handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (soft) in November on his penultimate start. Good second subsequently and is interesting off a mark 5lb higher than for his latest success.

Form: 765-912

Arthurs Secret^p¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 115| C| D

7/1

Failed to build on a promising 12½L third at Musselburgh (3m, good-to-soft) when finishing 27L fifth over the same C&D in similar conditions at the start of this month. Others look more reliable propositions.

Form: 136-535

Off The Hook³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 115

5/1

Beaten 20L when finishing third of five in a 2m3f handicap hurdle at Haydock (heavy) last month. Races off a 3lb lower mark here and others make more appeal in this contest.

Form: 2314-63

King Of Fashion^t¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: I A Duncan| OR: 114

9/1

Making his debut for this stable following well over two years off the track when finishing 28L fourth over an extended 2m5f at Ayr (soft) at the start of this month. Likely to have improved for that effort.

Form: 4P66/0-4

Katy Royal³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: J Kington| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 113

33/1

Dual winner including over 3m3f at Sedgefield (good-to-soft) 12 months ago. Had just two starts since most recently when pulled up over an extended 3m1f at Catterick (good-to-soft) on seasonal reappearance last month.

Form: F631P-6

Teescomponentstrig¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: G Boanas| OR: 109| BF

3/1

Placed on both starts since switching to handicaps including when 30L third over an extended 3m at Ayr (soft) earlier this month. Races off a 1lb lower mark here and has a top jockey in the saddle.

Form: 67-4223

Too Many Chiefs^b²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs S A Watt| OR: 108| D

16/1

Winner of six races over hurdles but has been out of form of late including when 55L tenth ove ran extended 3m at Haydock (soft) three weeks ago. Well handicapped on his old form.

Form: P-8P350

Jessiemac^t⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: D R Fox| T: I A Duncan| OR: 103| D

9/1

Successful on both appearances since returning from a break including in a mares race over an extended 2m4f at Ayr (heavy) in November. Given a break since and is interesting back up in trip racing off a 7lb higher mark.

Form: 215P11

Rising Marienbard^t⁴⁹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 100| DWS

20/1

Performed well in finishing 7L third in a handicap chase over 3m on good going at Hexham in September 2018. Absent since and is making his first start since wind surgery.

Form: 744/233-

Red Star Dancer^p1⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 96

50/1

14 race maiden under all codes and was beaten 43L when fourth in a maiden hurdle over 2m4f on heavy ground at Hexham last month. Interesting to see how he performs stepping up in trip on handicap debut.

Form: 834

Little Saint^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: Sean Conway| OR: 94

33/1

Decent 4½L third in a six runner handicap hurdle over an extended 2m4f at Southwell (heavy) on his penultimate start. Well beaten 48L fourth over this trip back in maiden company at Uttoxeter (heavy) subsequently however.

Form: P58534

Forecasts

Teescomponentstrig (3/1), Skipthescales (7/2), Off The Hook (5/1), Bryden Boy (7/1), Arthurs Secret (7/1), Jessiemac (9/1), King Of Fashion (9/1), The Delray Munky (12/1), Too Many Chiefs (16/1), Rising Marienbard (20/1), Katy Royal (33/1), Little Saint (33/1), Red Star Dancer (50/1)

JESSIEMAC has shown good form in recent starts and she can complete a hat-trick with a victory in the concluding staying handicap hurdle. The selection can defy a 7lb rise in the weights for her most recent victory to take this with top weight Skipthescales capable of finishing runner-up ahead of Bryden Boy who recorded a large margin victory on his penultimate appearance.