15:10 Newcastle

Wednesday 19 February 2020

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

Bombardier British Hopped Amber Beer Handicap

Off time: 15:14 | Winning time: 1m 25.88s

(10)

Librisa Breeze⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: Joey Haynes| T: D K Ivory| OR: 107| D

20/1

6f soft ground Group 1 winner (Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes) at Ascot in October 2017; well shy of such form on the AW in more recent times; plenty to do off top-weight but mildly interesting to see how he fares back on a straight track.

Form: 8/2078-4

(8)

Oh This Is Us¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 106| D

16/1

A fine servant to Richard Hannon (13-55) over a number of years, enjoying AW Championships Finals Day success at Lingfield last April (took the 1m conditions stakes from the French raider Indyco); a 7½f Chester winner on his last handicap start.

Form: 59139-5

(12)

Keyser Soze⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Angus Villiers⁽⁵⁾| T: R Spencer| OR: 103| BF| CD

11/2

Healthy AW strike-rate (4-8, 50%); very well backed 13-8f when successful in this race 12 months ago (beat Gallipoli by ¾L); 2lb higher and possibly doesn't arrive in quite the same form on this occasion; first competitive start for 83 days.

Form: 560004-

(3)

Glen Shiel⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: B A Curtis| T: A Watson| OR: 100| CD

8/1

Finished fourth of 20 (beaten 4L) in the Cl 2 Balmoral Handicap at Ascot (1m, heavy) in October 2019; always handy when scoring readily in a Cl 3 C&D handicap six weeks ago (beat Rathbone); 4lb higher; Ben Curtis booked to ride.

Form: 52498-1

(14)

Kasbaan⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 99

10/1

Ex-Owen Burrows; prominent-racer; struck on his first two starts for Michael Appleby (1m, Kempton) and has largely held/bettered that form since; finished last of five to Dubai Warrior in the Listed Quebec Stakes at Lingfield (1m2f) two months ago.

Form: 114235-

(11)

Straight Right^h⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 98| CD

4/1

C&D form figures read 125 (Cl 2 handicaps); rated 2lb lower than when beating Gallipoli by ½L in this race in 2018; held on in a most determined manner in a 6f Kempton conditions stakes latest (form franked since by Harry's Bar); solid credentials.

Form: 27005-1

(2)

Young Fire^v¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Shane Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 92| D

16/1

Former French-racer; in fine fettle for David O'Meara this winter, including when a decisive Cl 3 winner at Wolverhampton (7f) a fortnight ago; 4lb higher (fair) in a more competitive race; risky approach taken if dismissed lightly.

Form: 16692-1

(13)

Rathbone⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 90

14/1

Proved to be no match for Glen Shiel in Cl 3 C&D handicap six weeks ago and it would be a surprise if he can reverse those placings on 3lb better terms (for 1¼L); has done the bulk of his racing over 6f.

Form: 18000-2

(6)

Sanaadh^t⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-6| J: J Fanning| T: M Wigham| OR: 89| CD

10/1

Nearest at the finish when under 2L fourth to Keyser Soze in this race last year (same terms if factoring in the 5lb claim of Angus Villiers); was eased late on (pulled-up and dismounted) at Lingfield on New Year's Eve.

Form: 08500P-

(4)

Aljari^b1⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: M Botti| OR: 89

9/2

Lightly raced (2-4 on the AW); was making just his second handicap appearance when keeping on from a tardy start to finish second to Above The Rest (Straight Right fifth) over C&D in mid-December; of obvious interest in first-time blinkers.

Form: 41152-

(5)

Hart Stopper^p,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: Hayley Turner| T: S C Williams| OR: 87| C

25/1

Consistent performer (over 6f); was given a beautiful ride by Hayley Turner when a snug head winner of a Cl 4 handicap here four weeks ago - form rock-solid for the grade (Athollblair Boy fourth); stablemate of Papa Stour (carries same silks).

Form: 232-721

(1)

Baronial Pride⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-3| J: A Mullen| T: R A Fahey| OR: 86

16/1

Short of experience in competitive handicaps (& over 7f); eye-catcher when repeatedly denied a clear run behind Glen Shiel and Rathbone (finished 2¾L fourth) over C&D six weeks ago; must step forward, albeit it'll come as no surprise if he does so.

Form: 23533/4

(7)

Athollblair Boy⁸^{(ex 4)}

Age: 7| Weight: 8-2| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁵⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 81| CD

33/1

Won for the fifth time at Newcastle (6f x4, 7f x1) when showing a smart turn of foot inside the final furlong to shoot clear of Glenamoy Lad eight days ago; has built a strong rapport with Faye McManoman; raised in grade under a 4lb penalty.

Form: 220-441

(9)

Papa Stour^t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-0| J: Cam Hardie| T: S C Williams| OR: 83| D

12/1

Runner-up over 1m here (Cl 5) on his penultimate start; denied a suitable opportunity by failing floodlights here thereafter before easily making amends at Chelmsford (1m) a few weeks later; is facing a much sterner test; stablemate of Hart Stopper.

Form: 36962-1

Forecasts

Straight Right (4/1), Aljari (9/2), Keyser Soze (11/2), Glen Shiel (8/1), Sanaadh (10/1), Kasbaan (10/1), Papa Stour (12/1), Rathbone (14/1), Oh This Is Us (16/1), Baronial Pride (16/1), Young Fire (16/1), Librisa Breeze (20/1), Hart Stopper (25/1), Athollblair Boy (33/1)

A humdinger featuring previous winners Keyser Soze (2019) and Straight Right (2018). Andrew Balding's charge boasts a solid C&D record (125) and remains on a winnable mark despite gamely taking a 6f conditions event at Kempton latest (form franked at the weekend by Harry's Bar). Glen Shiel, Rathbone and Baronial Pride finished first, second and fourth respectively in a recent Class 3 C&D handicap and consequently must enter the thought process, while the admirable Oh This Is Us was a winner on his last handicap start. However, the unknown commodity is the newly-blinkered ALJARI who makes appeal as a horse of some potential for Marco Botti.