18:45 Newcastle

Friday 28 February 2020

All17:1017:4518:1518:4519:1519:45

Ladbrokes Home Of The Odds Boost Handicap

Off time: 18:51 | Winning time: 1m 13.03s

(6)

Dark Silver³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: S De Sousa| T: E Walker| OR: 75| BF

11/10

Placed in half of his 10 starts, but yet to win. Went very close to doing so on Tapeta at Wolverhampton (6f) on his penultimate start. 2lb higher here, so needs to pull out more than we have seen if he is to better another placed effort.

Form: 2277-23

(2)

Speed Merchant^p²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 73| D

3/1

Won a seller over this trip on Tapeta for Brian Meehan, in first-time cheekpieces. Followed up on debut for this trainer at Kempton (7f) and added another 6f win at Southwell in December, when 4lb lower. However, needs improvement to defy this mark.

Form: 1615-42

(4)

Dream Game¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: A Mullen| T: B Haslam| OR: 73| C

6/1

A tale of improvement with each run so far saw her come good over 5f here, at the fourth attempt, last time out, when arriving late on the scene. Up 5lb for that, but she overcame a bit of trouble and the step back up in trip may help. Player.

Form: 6-421

(1)

Mountain Brave¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 73

8/1

Stepped up on her early consistent form in novices' company when winning on her handicap debut at Wolverhampton (7f, Tapeta) last time. Made all there, and this drop back in trip should be no problem. Goes up 5lb and should be a big player.

Form: 2-431

(5)

Saras Hope²¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: P J McDonald| T: J Gallagher| OR: 67

8/1

Held in all three starts in novice/maiden company, but did show promise in the second of those, when third over 6f at Nottingham last June. Initial mark looks stiff enough, however, so a watching brief looks best.

Form: 638-

(3)

Cece Ceylon¹⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Barry McHugh| T: P T Midgley| OR: 61

22/1

Showed some promise on a couple of occasions when with Ralph Beckett, without looking like winning. Not seen since September and changed hands since then. Drops 1lb for stable debut and not written off here for trainer who does well with sprinters.

Form: 48046-

Non-Runners

(7)

Lady Latte¹³

Weight: 8-2| Age: 3

T: K R Burke J: Cam Hardie

Forecasts

Dark Silver (11/10), Speed Merchant (3/1), Dream Game (6/1), Mountain Brave (8/1), Saras Hope (8/1), Lady Latte (16/1), Cece Ceylon (22/1)

DREAM GAME continues to go the right way and looks worth following until she is beaten. Mountain Brave won't find it easy to defy a 5lb rise, but she did the job well last time and this trip should hold no fears. She looks a big danger. Cece Ceylon would be interesting if supported, while Dark Silver and Speed Merchant need to better recent efforts to be winning again.