19:00 Newcastle

Thursday 6 February 2020

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

Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap

Off time: 19:00 | Winning time: 1m 12.75s

(4)

Athollblair Boy¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Izzy Clifton⁽⁷⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 82| CD

2/1

Thoroughly likeable four-time course winner (6f-7f); on the premises (fourth) over C&D a fortnight ago (on return from a three-month absence); that form line could be further enhanced by Louis Treize in the previous race (6.30pm).

Form: 14220-4

(3)

Double Up^t²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: P J McDonald| T: Ian Williams| OR: 82| D

9/1

Has tumbled in the weights since his days as a top-level handicapper/conditions stakes performer for Roger Varian; sent off at odds of 40-1 when finishing a close third to Katheefa at Wolverhampton (6f) on his penultimate start.

Form: 09703-8

(5)

National Anthem¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lee| T: D H Brown| OR: 80| D

5/2

Returned from a spell on the sidelines when making a splash for his new trainer David Brown at Southwell (6f) early in the New Year; swiftly followed up over 5f before that progress stalled in a Class 3 handicap a fortnight ago; Tapeta debut.

Form: 48/114

(1)

Dandys Gold¹¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 76| D

13/2

Won back-to-back races on the Polytrack at Dundalk (for William J Fitzpatrick) early last year; well below that form during the autumn of 2019 and moved on accordingly at Goffs for €4,000; can the astute Roger Fell rejuvenate?

Form: 158000-

(2)

Airwaves¹⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Barry McHugh| T: P T Midgley| OR: 70| D

10/1

Monsieur Bond filly (from a useful family); made a pleasing start to her racing career in late 2018 with successive novice wins at Kempton (7f) and Wolverhampton (6f); struggled once sent handicapping by Martyn Meade (0-3); debut for Paul Midgley.

Form: 11/608-

(7)

Calin's Lad⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: A Mullen| T: B Haslam| OR: 66

4/1

Broke his duck (seventh start) when winning for Mick Appleby at Kempton (7f) in December (fourth placed Brains has won thrice since); in the mix at Wolverhampton subsequently; now in the care of the Middleham handler Ben Haslam.

Form: 03/2013-

Non-Runners

(6)

Kamra²

Weight: 9-4| Age: 6

T: M Appleby J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Athollblair Boy (2/1), Kamra (9/4), National Anthem (5/2), Calin's Lad (4/1), Dandys Gold (13/2), Double Up (9/1), Airwaves (10/1)

The Tapeta debutant National Anthem has made a positive start for David Brown (2-3) and that offers hope for Dandys Gold (Roger Fell), Airwaves (Paul Midgley) and Calin's Lad (Ben Haslam), each of whom are making their first start for new connections. However, despite carrying plenty of weight (reduced by the 7lb claimer Izzy Clifton) a strong preference is for the battle-hardened Newcastle regular ATHOLLBLAIR BOY. Nigel Tinkler's charge finished a creditable fourth to Hart Stopper on his return to action a fortnight ago. That form line has been boosted since by second-placed Fuente and could be further enhanced half an hour earlier by Louis Treize.