14:05 Newcastle

Wednesday 19 February 2020

All14:0514:3515:1015:4016:1516:50

Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 2m 50.19s

(5)

Central City^p¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: Ian Williams| OR: 72

5/2

Rediscovered his form when upped-in-trip at Wolverhampton (1m4f) earlier this month, finishing 1¼L second to the improving Hooflepuff; should hold every chance despite the burden of top-weight.

Form: 47487-2

(7)

Glan Y Gors^t¹⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: C Lee| T: D Thompson| OR: 69| CD

11/1

Three-time C&D winner; below-par on the AW during late summer (after a spell over hurdles); has eased in the weights (3lb) for his return from a 155-day absence; others considered more likely.

Form: 980408-

(6)

Tigray^p,t⁷^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: B A Curtis| T: M Appleby| OR: 66| D

7/2

Back to winning ways when keeping on stoutly down the outer at Southwell (1m4f) last week, beating Adjutant by ¾L; carries a 5lb penalty for that success; is 0-11 on the AW away from Southwell (first start at Newcastle today).

Form: 473-471

(3)

Archive³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-10| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁵⁾| T: Suzzanne France| OR: 67| CD

50/1

Veteran; with Brian Ellison when successful off this mark over C&D in April 2019; has shown no worthwhile form since and was tailed-off on debut for Suzzanne France here last month; look elsewhere.

Form: 11109-0

(9)

Liva^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: T Eaves| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 59

7/2

Showing clear and obvious signs of emerging from a spell in the doldrums; only reeled in late by the fast-finishing Political Policy at Wolverhampton (1m6f) a fortnight ago; fair chance from a 1lb higher mark.

Form: 0069-52

(2)

Major Snugfit^p⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: S Donohoe| T: R Menzies| OR: 60

13/2

Competitive in both AW starts for Rebecca Menzies (saddles three runners); despite still leading in the shadow of the post here (2m) last week, he unbelievably failed to make the frame (fourth); rates as a key player now dropped back in trip.

Form: 7476-44

(4)

Sweet Marmalade³³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 56

9/2

14-race maiden (0-6 on the Flat); placed on both AW starts at Newcastle (1m2f-1m4½f), including when a keeping on third to Accessor five weeks ago; 1lb higher.

Form: 8500-23

Non-Runners

(8)

Ska Ridge⁸

Weight: 9-5| Age: 8

T: R Menzies J: P Mulrennan

(1)

Tabou Beach Boy³³

Weight: 8-6| Age: 4

T: R Menzies J: Cam Hardie

Forecasts

Central City (5/2), Liva (7/2), Tigray (7/2), Sweet Marmalade (9/2), Major Snugfit (13/2), Tabou Beach Boy (7/1), Glan Y Gors (11/1), Ska Ridge (16/1), Archive (50/1)

The Sedgefield trainer Rebecca Menzies saddles three runners. Of those carrying the John Wade silks, the Musselburgh hurdles scorer Tabou Beach Boy makes more appeal than Ska Ridge. He ought to prove capable of winning on the AW sooner rather than later. However, his other stablemate MAJOR SNUGFIT was brave in defeat here (2m) last week when cruelly kept out of the frame in a blanket finish. Dropped back in trip, this could finally be his day at the expense of some other in-form rivals which include Central City, Liva and Tigray.