16:20 Newcastle

Tuesday 11 February 2020

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

Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 3m 48.41s

(2)

Waiting For Richie²²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Ellie Mackenzie⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 71| CD

12/1

C&D winner for Tom Tate in September 2017 and game when scoring in a Class 3 2m handicap at York in May 2018; poor form in 2019; moved on for £800 in October; first start for Rebecca Menzies (also saddles Major Snugfit).

Form: 231/009-

(6)

Bodacious Name^b1³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 68| D

12/1

Stayed on dourly when beating a Phil Kirby-trained duo over 2m½f at Southwell in November; most disappointing next time (despite racing 6lb light; no weight cloth); blinkers are added.

Form: 44631-D

(7)

Le Musee^v²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: T P Queally| T: N J Hawke| OR: 66| D

11/8

Useful chaser (145-rated); bumped into the very well-handicapped Mr Smith on the Flat at Carlisle (June 2019), so it was no surprise to see him justify favouritism at Southwell (2m½f) four weeks ago; subsequent 4lb rise lenient.

Form: 6/5862-1

(9)

Drums Of War^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: G Lee| T: C Grant| OR: 64

14/1

Winning hurdler (Sedgefield); lightly raced on the Flat (0-3); up-in-trip stepping out of novice company for the very first time; 28-1 when fourth of nine at Southwell (1m4f) four weeks ago.

Form: 47-4

(8)

Nataleena³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: A Mullen| T: B Haslam| OR: 64| CD

15/8

3lb higher than when coming from off the pace to record a second C&D success; evidently is well suited by a good, strong early gallop (at 2m); one for the shortlist and very much respected.

Form: 27134-1

(3)

Coup De Gold¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Toby Eley⁽⁵⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 62

25/1

Driven right out when winning over hurdles (40-1) at Catterick in December; 0-9 on the Flat (0-4 AW) and has plenty of work to do with Nataleena on the strength of previous C&D form.

Form: 477058-

(4)

Major Snugfit^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Cam Hardie| T: R Menzies| OR: 60

9/1

Made an encouraging debut for Rebecca Menzies (also saddles Waiting For Richie) when finishing a close fourth to Greengage over an extended 1m4f here in January; tailed-off over hurdles since.

Form: 07476-4

(1)

Nearly There^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: W Storey| OR: 51

12/1

11-race AW maiden who is yet to conclusively prove that he stays beyond 1m6f; finished third to the handicap blot Foresee over an extended 1m4f here last month; others preferred.

Form: 5508-53

Non-Runners

(5)

Urban Spirit⁴¹

Weight: 8-10| Age: 6

T: Karen McLintock J: L Morris

Forecasts

Le Musee (11/8), Nataleena (15/8), Major Snugfit (9/1), Nearly There (12/1), Bodacious Name (12/1), Waiting For Richie (12/1), Urban Spirit (12/1), Drums Of War (14/1), Coup De Gold (25/1)

Ben Haslam's Nataleena boasts an impressive C&D record (21341) and continued on a upward curve when swooping late to claim the scalp of the well-backed Noble Behest here five weeks ago. However, she meets a very well-handicapped rival in the shape of the Nigel Hawke-trained LE MUSEE. This seven-year-old gelding is a useful dual purpose performer (145-rated over fences) who won with any amount in hand from a subsequent Ludlow hurdles scorer (Bolt N Brown) at Southwell four weeks ago. From just a 4lb higher mark, he'll undoubtedly take the world of beating with Tom Queally also an eye-catching jockey booking.