16:30 Carlisle

Monday 3 February 2020

All13:5014:2014:5515:2516:0016:30

Newbiggin Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 4m 30.1s

Vengeur De Guye^t¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 117| D

25/1

Easy chase winner at Kelso (2m1f) on first run this season but well held since; including back over hurdles at Haydock (2m; heavy) last month. Eased another 3lb and cannot be discounted.

Form: 16-1034

Aristo Du Plessis³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 117| D

10/1

Long time between drinks now with no win since December 2018; pulled up at Musselburgh on New Year's Day but that was much stronger company and two prior efforts this term were promising in context of this class-drop.

Form: 505-45P

Xpo Universel^p,t⁸^{(ex 7)}

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: K Yeoman⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 109| CD

6/1

Veteran performer in good heart this season and duly scored in fine style at Catterick (2m1f, soft) eight days ago; must defy a penalty now but should give a solid account.

Form: 0-74521

Romeo Brown²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 115| CD

5/1

Good second over 2m4f (soft) here on seasonal debut in October but two falls and two poor runs in four starts since and plenty questions to be answered at the moment.

Form: 1-20FF5

Curramore¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L B Normile| OR: 114| CD

7/1

Dual bumper winner before getting off the mark over hurdles in a maiden here in November over this trip. Opening handicap mark a bit high afterward but starting to drop after two runs and remains early days.

Form: 532-16P

Winds Of Fire⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 113

5/1

Dual Flat winner at up 1m6f when with Charlie Appleby; third in both starts so far over timber in maiden/novice company. Possible improver now entering handicaps. Check betting.

Form: 33

Sleepy Haven^p¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 113| D

11/2

Last won in 2016; posted figures of 2233 in last four starts over hurdles however (mostly over further) and entitled to be suited dropping in distance from an unchanged mark. Could go well.

Form: 642233

Get Help²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 112

10/1

Nine-race maiden over hurdles, with a few decent efforts thrown. Hard to know what his best trip is but likely it is over an intermediate trip. Handicap mark is sliding if taking advantage.

Form: 323633

Mint Gold^t¹⁰²

9/1

Winner of a C&D novice a year ago on good ground; made encouraging handicap debut at Perth in September but backwards step next time back here. Has undergone wind operation since and worth close scrutiny on return to action.

Form: 6713-35

Notwhatiam¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁷⁾| T: A Berry| OR: 110

100/1

Mostly tried in better company this season and struggling to land a blow of any sort, including at Haydock last month when dropping into this grade. Handicap mark has plummeted as a result of that string of wide-margin defeats.

Form: 650596

Let's Sway^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 100

25/1

Wetherby run on Boxing Day (2m, soft) much the best of this season's effort but was starting to flounder having made the running in weaker Catterick race last month when he fell two out. Runs from the same mark but needs to bounce back.

Form: 2-P503F

Craig Star³³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 99

33/1

4-40 record over timber but now more than two years since the most recent of those wins. Well handicapped on the best of his 2019 efforts in defeat, though below par on two most recent starts.

Form: 243F55

Forecasts

Winds Of Fire (5/1), Romeo Brown (5/1), Sleepy Haven (11/2), Xpo Universel (6/1), Curramore (7/1), Mint Gold (9/1), Aristo Du Plessis (10/1), Get Help (10/1), Let's Sway (25/1), Vengeur De Guye (25/1), Craig Star (33/1), Notwhatiam (100/1)

Penalised Catterick scored Xpo Universel is likely to have a big say if turning up in the same mood eight days on from that decisive success. Sleepy Haven is in good tune at the moment and wouldn't be winning out of turn while it's worth keeping an eye on Mint Gold in the betting after a wind operation since a poor run here in October. Having achieved a rating of 88 on the Flat, there should be a future over timber for WINDS OF FIRE. This opening mark could be workable with improvement likely and he's taken to strike for the in-form Evan Williams team.