18:15 Newcastle

Tuesday 10 March 2020

All16:4017:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap

Off time: 18:15 | Winning time: 1m 1.28s

(7)

Foxy Forever^b,t⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 9-9| J: T Hamilton| T: M Wigham| OR: 77| D

11/2

Veteran; best suited by coming late off a strong early pace; has bumped into various Antony Brittain-trained runners of late - Canford Bay (Wolverhampton) and Tathmeen (here); sits on a fair mark, and is largely a consistent type.

Form: 2-52663

(1)

Royal Brave¹²³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 76| CD

33/1

Sole AW win (1-14) came over C&D in November 2016; off the track since finishing eighth of 14 to Paddy Power in a Cl 4 6f handicap here in November; others may possess a crucial fitness/sharpness edge.

Form: 683448-

(6)

Militia¹⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Barry McHugh| T: P T Midgley| OR: 74| BF| D

12/1

In fine fettle towards the end of the turf season with back-to-back wins at Ayr (5f, good) & Musselburgh (5f, soft); finished third at Wolverhampton on sole AW start for Richard Fahey (Nov 2017); stablemate of Good Luck Fox and Nibras Again.

Form: 549113-

(3)

Dynamo Walt¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: D Shaw| OR: 72| CD

8/1

An AW regular (14-86); has been knocking at the door since the turn of the year, and has various pieces of related form with Foxy Forever and Mutabaahy (both at Wolverhampton); is easing slightly in the weights; don't dismiss.

Form: 641-345

(8)

Good Luck Fox¹³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: K Stott| T: P T Midgley| OR: 72| D

20/1

Somewhat disappointing towards the end of his time with Richard Hannon (finished last of 13 on AW debut at Chelmsford); joined this triply-represented trainer for 11,000gns at the Newmarket Autumn Sale; gelded since.

Form: 025050-

(2)

Nibras Again²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: G Lee| T: P T Midgley| OR: 71| D

14/1

Remains an AW maiden (0-10) with all three wins on turf coming on quick ground at the minimum trip; hasn't raced from a mark this low since winning at Haydock (off 65) in August 2018; one of three declared runners for Paul Midgley.

Form: 99767-9

(4)

Mutabaahy¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: A Brittain| OR: 70| D

3/1

Has risen a combined total of 13lb in the weights courtesy of three wins at Dunstall Park Wolverhampton; sits 3lb higher than when edging out Tabaahy by a head (Dynamo Walt fifth) 15 days ago; stablemate of Klopp.

Form: 0131-01

(5)

Klopp^p1¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 70| CD

6/4

A likeable filly who continues to perform consistently well at both Newcastle and Wolverhampton; rallied when short-headed by Buniann over C&D 11 days ago; sits 3lb higher in newly-applied cheekpieces; should be thereabouts.

Form: 53-2212

Forecasts

Klopp (6/4), Mutabaahy (3/1), Foxy Forever (11/2), Dynamo Walt (8/1), Militia (12/1), Nibras Again (14/1), Good Luck Fox (20/1), Royal Brave (33/1)

A tricky contest in which the waters are muddied by the presence of multiple runners from various stables. The 'sprint-king' Paul Midgley is responsible for Militia (unexposed on the AW), the attractively weighted Nibras Again and the far less appealing Good Luck Fox (ex-Richard Hannon). However, with the Antony Brittain string in fine form we'll elect to stick with the versatile KLOPP over the Wolverhampton specialist Mutabaahy. The selection is a likeable filly who continues to climb in the weights, hence the application of first-time cheekpieces in order to eke out any remaining traces of further improvement.