20:30 Newcastle

Saturday 15 February 2020

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

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 20:47 | Winning time: 1m 14.11s

(12)

Zebulon²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 60| CD

11/2

Previous C&D winner who ran well to be runner-up twice over C&D in December. Not in the same form in two starts since at Wolverhampton (6f) and back over C&D last time. Has the ability on a going day but hard to know if that'll be the case.

Form: 5022-65

(2)

Scorched Breath^t³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S Donohoe| T: R Menzies| OR: 60

11/1

11-race maiden who has failed to build on early promise. Fourth in a seller over 1m½f at Wolverhampton last time. Starts out with a new yard dropped to 6f but others preferred unless the market suggests otherwise.

Form: 90040-4

(3)

Swinging Eddie³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 59

20/1

Showed some ability for Kevin Ryan; notably when second at Doncaster on handicap debut (6f) five starts ago. Second run for this yard after £6,000 purchase but will need a big jolt forward on his 15L last of nine here 30 days ago.

Form: 6/2983-9

(13)

Loretta^p1⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 58

9/2

Excellent sprint pedigree; sister to Judicial and half-sister to Group 1 winner Marsha. Ran well over C&D two starts ago before disappointing at Wolverhampton (7f). Still early days and with cheekpieces for handicap debut, is worth a second look.

Form: 7734-

(9)

Highland Acclaim²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: A Mullen| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 57| D

18/1

Won twice this time last year (7f/6f) off 16lb and 18lb higher marks respectively. Not in the same form since and not shaped as though a return to form was near although the switch in yard may help give him a new lease of life.

Form: 5084-69

(1)

Montalvan²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 57| D

25/1

Sole win (from 19 starts) came when making all in a 6f maiden handicap at Ripon (good) in July 2019; hardly the most enticing and his last of ten, beaten 9L here (5f) last month tempers even the mildest enthusiasm.

Form: 77466-0

(14)

One One Seven⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 55| C| D

10/1

Stayed on well to win 0-55 classified event at Wolverhampton (6f) in December but couldn't match that back 0-60 handicap company last time. Never the most consistent but did win over C&D off this mark in October 2018.

Form: 20071-6

(5)

Gunmaker^b²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: J Garritty| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 55

2/1

His sole success so far came on the AW at Dundalk (7f) in January 2018. Has hit the frame on his last three appearances, including latest when he was just a head away in second place. Has gone up 3lb. One for the shortlist.

Form: 696-332

(10)

Olivia R^p1¹²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: J L Eyre| OR: 55

25/1

Showed a glimmer of ability on couple of occasions for David Barron last year but there wasn't much to get excited about on her last four starts. Makes yard debut with first-time cheekpieces but best watched unless there's money for her.

Form: 349006-

(4)

Kommander Kirkup³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-1| J: Phil Dennis| T: M Herrington| OR: 54| D

12/1

Running fairly in defeat over C&D in recent starts but is now 0-11 at this track and all his AW wins have been on the Fibresand at Southwell. Likely to give his running again but others preferred at this venue.

Form: 04065-7

(7)

Patrick²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: Barry McHugh| T: P T Midgley| OR: 52| D

10/1

Hadn't been running badly of late until being far too keen and weakening into tenth of 13 over C&D last time. His mark has fallen 28lb below his last winning one but is hard to trust on the balance of form for yard having a lean spell.

Form: 25645-0

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 5p in the pound

Non-Runners

(11)

Strawberryandcream¹⁵

Weight: 9-5| Age: 5

T: J D Bethell J: P Hanagan

(8)

Ishebayorgrey¹

Weight: 9-1| Age: 8

T: I Jardine J: Jamie Gormley

(6)

Dream Mount⁴⁰

Weight: 9-0| Age: 5

T: Miss J A Camacho J: Jason Hart

Forecasts

Gunmaker (2/1), Loretta (9/2), Zebulon (11/2), Strawberryandcream (7/1), Patrick (10/1), One One Seven (10/1), Dream Mount (10/1), Ishebayorgrey (10/1), Scorched Breath (11/1), Kommander Kirkup (12/1), Highland Acclaim (18/1), Swinging Eddie (20/1), Olivia R (25/1), Montalvan (25/1)

Given her outstanding pedigree and the fact her best run to date came over C&D, LORETTA makes some appeal on her handicap debut. She's open to far more improvement than any of her rivals and the cheekpieces may keep her eyes on the prize. Strawberryandcream has ran well on her last two starts and should appreciate the drop in trip after racing too freely last time whilst Gunmaker has returned in recent starts and is a solid proposition to make the frame again.