19:50 Newcastle

Tuesday 11 February 2020

All16:2016:5017:2017:5018:2018:5019:2019:50

Bombardier Golden Beer Handicap

Off time: 19:50 | Winning time: 1m 28.95s

(2)

Merricourt²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jamie Gormley| T: I Jardine| OR: 73

33/1

Runner-up to Yuften in a Dundalk claimer (1m) in October; 0-2 for Iain Jardine and eased 3lb since last run (weakened inside the final furlong); others are considered more likely.

Form: 33120-6

(1)

Elixsoft^p²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Gemma Tutty⁽³⁾| T: K Tutty| OR: 73| CD

18/1

Regularly on the premises on the Fibresand at Southwell (1m); 2lb higher than when beaten a neck by Bond Angel four weeks ago; also effective at Newcastle (7f-1m); key player.

Form: 07952-2

(5)

Merweb^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Ellie Mackenzie⁽⁷⁾| T: H Main| OR: 72| C

5/1

Consistent in defeat in each of his last three starts, including when beaten in excess of 1L by the 25-1 shot Hieronymous at Kempton (7f) three weeks ago; the 7lb claim of Ellie Mackenzie is helpful.

Form: 50932-2

(6)

Blindingly¹¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Harrison Shaw⁽³⁾| T: B Haslam| OR: 71| CD

12/1

Game C&D winner in September (beat Al Ozzdi by a neck) supplementing earlier gains on turf at Thirsk; went off the boil thereafter and appears to have been freshened up by a 112-day break.

Form: 311356-

(4)

Kentuckyconnection⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Ben Sanderson⁽³⁾| T: B Smart| OR: 70| CD

20/1

Bounded clear when winning over C&D in October but has never been the easiest of horses too assess (finished fifth in the 2016 2000 Guineas); 5lb above that 'winning' mark on return from a two-month absence.

Form: 656016-

(9)

Insurplus²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Phil Dennis| T: J S Goldie| OR: 69| CD

12/1

Five-time course winner (C&D x3); competes from the same mark as when finishing strongly (third) behind First Response over 1m here last month; shouldn't ever be discounted in haste at Gosforth Park.

Form: 10435-3

(10)

Etikaal²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 69| CD

5/1

Caught the eye when keeping on strongly (met trouble) behind the progressive Wasntexpectingthat over 6f here latest; although denied the hat-trick on that occasion, he served notice that a mark of 69 isn't beyond the reach of his capabilities.

Form: 10911-3

(7)

Dutch Pursuit^p⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Russell Harris⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 68| CD

28/1

Won a couple of Newcastle novice events (6f-7f) for Michael Dods in late 2018/early 2019; has failed to flourish despite easing in the weights for Rebecca Menzies; early days sporting cheekpieces.

Form: 89870-8

(13)

Chosen World^p⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 67| CD

6/1

Feasibly weighted three-time C&D winner; emerged from out of the pack to finish a never nearer third (beaten 7½L) to Valley Of Fire and La Rav over C&D two months ago.

Form: 267003-

(11)

Reaver²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Shane Gray| T: J Hodge| OR: 66

40/1

Won three times for Eve Johnson Houghton in 2016/17 before a less productive stint across the Irish Sea; sold cheaply in August 2019 and truthfully hasn't offered a great deal in two starts for John Hodge; look elsewhere.

Form: 0353/0-4

(3)

Kind Review²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: L Morris| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 65

8/1

Ex-Godolphin (unraced); has shown promise for the Spennymoor handler Tracy Waggott; keen, yet rallied under pressure in a three-way photo featuring stablemates Curfewed and Proceeding here (1m) last month; realistic chance.

Form: 26635-3

(14)

Silver Dust^p¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 65

5/1

Nine-race maiden; gave the distinct impression that he didn't stay 1m (here) latest, so it's no surprise to see him dropping back in trip; is eased a further 2lb for just his second start wearing cheekpieces.

Form: 7948-36

(12)

Tiercel¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 65| CD

40/1

Sprung a 33-1 surprise over C&D in March 2019; ran creditably on his second start back from a break when finishing 3¼L fourth to Bugler Bob (Rich Approach second) over C&D 19 days ago; entirely possible that he can make the frame.

Form: 5100-64

(8)

Rich Approach¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: J Mitchell| T: J D Bethell| OR: 64| CD

9/1

C&D winner; offered little on turf last summer (0-3); emerged from the wilderness (168-day break) to finish a keeping on second to Bugler Bob (Tiercel fourth) over C&D 19 days ago; 1lb higher; can he back up?

Form: 95769-2

Forecasts

Silver Dust (5/1), Merweb (5/1), Etikaal (5/1), Chosen World (6/1), Kind Review (8/1), Rich Approach (9/1), Insurplus (12/1), Blindingly (12/1), Elixsoft (18/1), Kentuckyconnection (20/1), Dutch Pursuit (28/1), Merricourt (33/1), Reaver (40/1), Tiercel (40/1)

A maximum field and a very competitive finale featuring a whole host of Newcastle regulars, including Jim Goldie's Insurplus. Kind Review raced keenly on his return to action here (1m) last month, but still managed to rally under pressure to force a three-way photo with his better fancied stablemates Curfewed and Proceeding and this Godolphin cast-off has a race of this nature within. Meanwhile, the tough mare Elixsoft has been threatening on the Fibresand at Southwell for the Tutty's. However, the suggested advice is to stick with the in-form ETIKAAL. He kept on strongly after meeting trouble when failing to complete the hat-trick here (6f) latest.