17:15 Newcastle

Tuesday 21 January 2020

All16:0516:4017:1517:4518:1518:4519:15

Betway Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:15 | Winning time: 1m 13.25s

(1)

Hassaad¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽³⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 72

7/2

Posted a solid pair of efforts in defeat the last twice, and this is a drop in class compared to the contest he was third in at Kempton (6f; standard to slow) last time out. Open to much more improvement than his rivals.

Form: 55202-3

(3)

Lucky Lodge^v⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-8| J: Harry Russell⁽³⁾| T: A Brittain| OR: 71| CD

11/4

Making his 109th career start, and although he looks vulnerable to much less exposed types, it is hard to fault his consistency in recent times. Still 5lb above the mark he scored off over C&D in November. Definite place contender.

Form: 32134-5

(8)

Global Hope^p⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Toby Eley⁽³⁾| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 70| BF| D

6/1

In and out of form recently, as highlighted by his most recent effort when he was well fancied (sent off 15-8f) but tailed in sixth of seven at Southwell (6f; standard). No surprise to see him bounce back, as he runs here for the first time.

Form: 1027-26

(5)

Oriental Lilly^p³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Corey Madden⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 69| CD

6/1

Five-time course winner and she bounced back to form with a respectable third over C&D last month when half-a-length behind Hassaad. Every chance of reversing those placings, and can't be discounted off this mark if in the same form as last time.

Form: 690263-

(4)

Marietta Robusti¹¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Paula Muir| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 67| D

50/1

Record at this track (0-4) is slightly concerning and she remains 4lb above his last winning mark. Makes return from four-month break and was last seen finishing down the field at Hamilton (5f; heavy) in September. Fair bit to prove.

Form: 631556-

(2)

The Right Choice^b⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: George Rooke⁽³⁾| T: J Ferguson| OR: 67| D

4/1

Encouraging run of form for this stable (not finished out of the first three in three starts since joining the yard) continued when he was a narrow second at Southwell (6f; standard) just nine days ago. Firmly in the mix once more on that evidence.

Form: 07523-2

(7)

Zebulon⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Zak Wheatley⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 62| CD

5/1

Return to this track looks the right move given he finished runner-up twice in a row prior to disappointing at Wolverhampton (6f; standard). Only 2lb above his last winning mark which he scored off when successful over C&D eight starts ago.

Form: 95022-6

Non-Runners

(6)

Coolagh Magic¹⁴

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: S Spencer J: G C O'Neill

Forecasts

Lucky Lodge (11/4), Hassaad (7/2), The Right Choice (4/1), Zebulon (5/1), Oriental Lilly (6/1), Global Hope (6/1), Coolagh Magic (16/1), Marietta Robusti (50/1)

Very hard to rule out most of this field, with both the veteran Lucky Lodge and the unpredictable Global Hope not fully discounted. Oriental Lilly has solid place claims over a C&D she tends to go very well at, as shown by her recent third here last month. Since moving to James Ferguson, The Right Choice has done everything but win in three starts and he looks sure to be firmly on the premises again. However, preference is for the lightly raced HASSAAD who drops in class after running respectably in third at Kempton last time out. He went close in this grade over C&D prior to that and this looks a good opportunity for him to get off the mark in handicaps.