17:30 Newcastle

Saturday 15 February 2020

All16:5517:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Bombardier British Hopped Amber Beer Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 1m 28.42s

(7)

Dancing Speed⁹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Russell Harris⁽³⁾| T: L Bailey| OR: 56

16/1

12-race maiden was beaten 10L when tenth of 13 over 7f over C&D when last seen in November, his first start since wind surgery. Has joined a new yard since then but is best watched unless positive in the betting.

Form: 066700-

(6)

Bobby Joe Leg^v²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Zak Wheatley⁽³⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 53| CD

5/2

Appreciated the drop into Class 7 company when winning by ½L over C&D last month. Up 3lb but is still well handicapped on his old form and shouldn't be far away in a weak race.

Form: 07365-1

(2)

Crash Helmet⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Paula Muir| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 51| C

12/1

Won a novice event here (6f) in September 2018 but form has been downhill since then. Has dropped 18lb in total but no signs of the decline being arrested, with another heavy defeat last time here (1m).

Form: 15/89-07

(8)

The Bull^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Harry Russell| T: B Haslam| OR: 51| C

9/4

Infrequent scorer, but sole career success came at this track over 5f and he has been running respectably in defeat of late. Finished fourth here (6f) last month, after a 78-day break and surprise if he wasn't capable of finishing on the premises.

Form: 45433-4

(5)

Tarnhelm^h¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Rhona Pindar| T: W Storey| OR: 48

9/1

Yet to win on the AW (0-17), continually held back by her tendency to blow the start; 3L behind Bobby Joe Leg over C&D last month but has ran poorly since then and is unlikely to reverse the form.

Form: 526-988

(4)

Dixieland²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Owen Payton⁽⁵⁾| T: L Bailey| OR: 46

16/1

His C&D fourth in October gives him some sort of chance but his debut for this yard was poor at Wolverhampton (1m½f) 22 days ago, finishing last of 12. Would be a surprise if he made it fifteenth time lucky now.

Form: 74680-9

(3)

Saltie Girl¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Elisha Whittington| T: T D Barron| OR: 46

13/2

4lb better off with Bobby Joe Leg for a 2L defeat over C&D last month and has ran well again since, finishing fifth (beaten 1½L) over 6f here 15 days ago. Those runs entitle her to plenty of respect.

Form: 056-765

(1)

Deolali⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Toby Eley| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 45

7/1

Seven race maiden who showed ability when fourth in a 0-50 handicap over C&D at the end of last month. Didn't see out 1m1½f at Wolverhampton when adopting front-running tactics last time and now drops back in trip.

Form: 80/048-6

Forecasts

The Bull (9/4), Bobby Joe Leg (5/2), Saltie Girl (13/2), Deolali (7/1), Tarnhelm (9/1), Crash Helmet (12/1), Dancing Speed (16/1), Dixieland (16/1)

A weak affair which looks to be a good opportunity for BOBBY JOE LEG to follow-up his C&D win last month off just 3lb higher mark. A pull in the weights for Saltie Girl from that race ranks her as the main danger having run well again since then whilst The Bull is consistent in this sort of event and is a reliable enough sort in the context of this race.