17:00 Newcastle

Thursday 6 February 2020

All16:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

Bombardier British Hopped Amber Beer Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:02 | Winning time: 1m 40.52s

(7)

Ascot Week^v⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Sean Davis| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 72| CD

9/1

Dual C&D winner (Class 6); returns fresh from a short break after disappointing here prior to Christmas; 1lb higher than when beaten a neck by Anif over C&D on his penultimate start.

Form: 735220-

(8)

One To Go¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Kate Leahy⁽⁷⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 70| D

9/2

Ex-Tim Easterby; joined this trainer for 22,000gns at the Newmarket Autumn Sale; struck on his second start for the yard (won going away) at Lingfield (1m) 19 days ago; 3lb rise (and more) negated by the 7lb claimer Kate Leahy.

Form: 8348-61

(4)

Champagne Rules¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: Rowan Scott| T: Mrs S A Watt| OR: 68| C

6/1

Steady over a range of trips since returning from a break (352); surprisingly sits 2lb lower than when finishing 2¾L third to Vive La Difference (second and fourth have won since) over C&D in December; place possible.

Form: 0683-52

(9)

Dutch Pursuit^p1⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Russell Harris⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 68| C

14/1

Won a couple of Newcastle novice events (6f-7f) for Michael Dods in late 2018/early 2019; has failed to flourish in handicap company (easing 12lb in the weights); cheekpieces are applied on third start for Rebecca Menzies.

Form: 189870-

(5)

Double Martini²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Paula Muir⁽³⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 68| BF| CD

5/1

Justified favouritism over C&D on his penultimate start (third placed Curfewed reversed that form on his next start); 4lb above his 'winning' mark, yet essentially remains low mileage (2-9 career) for Roger Fell.

Form: 5454-15

(6)

Lady Alavesa¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Harrison Shaw| T: M Herrington| OR: 64| D

17/2

Won four times (7f-1m) for her previous handler Gay Kelleway, but isn't operating at that kind of level nowadays and isn't overly proficient on the AW as a whole (1-16); stablemate of Street Poet; others much preferred.

Form: 5288-68

(3)

Proceeding¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Andrew Breslin⁽³⁾| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 63| CD

5/1

Thrived over C&D since early November (three wins); well supported when toying with Ritchie Star (runs later) a fortnight ago; a subsequent 6lb rise is reduced by utilising the 3lb claimer Andrew Breslin; his Spennymoor based trainer is in-form.

Form: 113-721

(1)

Street Poet¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Harry Russell⁽⁵⁾| T: M Herrington| OR: 63

25/1

Poor since winning over 7f at Wolverhampton last July; this stablemate of Lady Alavesa is very difficult to consider as a realistic contender; far safer to look elsewhere.

Form: 4700-00

(2)

Ballet Red⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Mark Crehan⁽⁵⁾| T: T J FitzGerald| OR: 62

9/2

Broke her duck at the 14th attempt in a 1m+ classified selling stakes at Wolverhampton four weeks ago; fair fourth (beaten 2½L) on debut for Tim Fitzgerald in a similar C&D apprentices' handicap last week.

Form: 3626-14

Forecasts

One To Go (9/2), Ballet Red (9/2), Double Martini (5/1), Proceeding (5/1), Champagne Rules (6/1), Lady Alavesa (17/2), Ascot Week (9/1), Dutch Pursuit (14/1), Street Poet (25/1)

Champagne Rules is a place possible for Sharon Watt, but this is most likely to rest between the recent winners ONE TO GO, Double Martini and Proceeding. All three of the aforementioned horses have been well placed in this apprentices' handicap with Kate Leahy (7), Paula Muir (3) and Andrew Breslin (3) respectively deployed in order to reduce or completely negate recent weights rises. Unlike the other pair the selection must prove himself on Tapeta but he finished full of running at Lingfield Park and could continue to progress for Archie Watson (2-6; 33% at Newcastle in 2020).