16:40 Newcastle

Tuesday 10 March 2020

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

Betway Handicap

Off time: 16:44 | Winning time: 3m 41.27s

(1)

Zabeel Star¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Jamie Gormley| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 67| CD

9/2

Versatile all-rounder for the triply-represented Ingoe based trainer Karen McLintock; ran on strongly to claw back the well-supported Dark Lochnagar (Imperial Focus fourth, Bravantina sixth) in a C&D jumpers' bumper 18 days ago; foolishly dismissed.

Form: 35878-4

(4)

Shine Baby Shine^p1³³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Nick Barratt-Atkin⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 62| D

16/1

Regularly on the premises on the AW during the autumn/winter months, including when a close third to shock 100-1 winner Bravantina (Call Me Madam second) over C&D in December; cheekpieces are applied following a recent spin over hurdles.

Form: 95223-4

(11)

Ice Galley^v³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: P Mulrennan| T: P A Kirby| OR: 61

33/1

Hit the woodwork (at odds of 33-1) over hurdles at Market Rasen (2m7f, good to soft) five weeks ago; returns to the Flat from an easing mark (accompanies stablemate Shine Baby Shine); is drawn fairly wide in stall 11.

Form: 41909-4

(3)

Nataleena²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: A Mullen| T: B Haslam| OR: 64| CD

10/3

Dual C&D winner who is a real force to be reckoned with at this track granted a good, strong early gallop; in the thick of the action (despite meeting trouble) when a closing third to Drums Of War (Nearly There second) latest; merits respect.

Form: 7134-13

(12)

Kaizer³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: A C Whillans| OR: 60| D

3/1

Finished a weakening sixth of 14 (to Spirit Of Angel) on his last Flat appearance; highly tried over hurdles since, including in the Scottish County Hurdle at Musselburgh (1m7½f, soft) in early February; others more obvious.

Form: 935416-

(7)

Question Of Faith¹⁸²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: M Todhunter| OR: 58| DWS

50/1

Best served by a test of stamina; is versatile in terms of underfoot conditions (good, soft, heavy etc) so has scope to do well on the AW (0-2); wind surgery, and 3lb lower since finishing fourth at Catterick (1m6f) last September; others race-fit.

Form: 845574-

(13)

Major Snugfit^p¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Cam Hardie| T: R Menzies| OR: 59

8/1

Has held his form well since joining Rebecca Menzies (46443); wasn't beaten far by the improving Glan Y Gors (winner since) on his penultimate start; third in a jumpers' bumper latest; should prove capable of winning a similar race sooner or later.

Form: 476-444

(2)

Life Knowledge^b¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: Jason Hart| T: L Bailey| OR: 52| BF| C

16/1

2-38 on the Flat (2-15 AW); has mixed Flat racing with hurdling and chasing since the turn of the year; just held (second) in a 1m5½f classified stakes at Chelmsford 12 days ago; ought to prove competitive if in the same fettle.

Form: 6695-22

(8)

Urban Spirit¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: B A Curtis| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 52| D

14/1

Competes off the same mark as when beaten a nose by Extreme Appeal over C&D in April 2019 (then with Lawrence Mullaney); may strip fitter for a recent run in a jumpers' bumper (sixth, behind Major Snugfit).

Form: 026279-

(5)

Imperial Focus^v¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 51

25/1

Still seeking his first career success (0-34 overall); finished fourth to the reopposing Zabeel Star in a C&D jumpers' bumper latest; previously was beaten 1½L when hitting the frame in a 1m4½f Class 6 handicap here in January.

Form: 4076-34

(9)

Nearly There^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: W Storey| OR: 51

12/1

Yet to win on the AW (0-12), but is inching ever closer to doing so; split Drums Of War and the slightly unlucky Nataleena over C&D four weeks ago; it wouldn't be a major surprise if he finds one or two stronger.

Form: 508-532

(10)

Bravantina^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: G Lee| T: M Walford| OR: 48| CD

16/1

Has raced over hurdles and in a jumpers' bumper since springing a 100-1 surprise over C&D in December, beat Call Me Madam (second) Shine Baby Shine (third) and Nataleena (fourth); has work to do with Zabeel Star.

Form: 89091-0

(14)

Call Me Madam³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: J D Bethell| OR: 46

16/1

Underwhelming in two starts since finishing a close second (40-1) to Bravantina over C&D in December - Shine Baby Shine and Nataleena behind; remains a maiden (0-12) and that's not necessarily expected to change on this occasion.

Form: 7682-57

(6)

Good Man⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: Barry McHugh| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 45

25/1

19-race maiden; has run well on numerous occasions at this track (finished second four times); lacklustre on return to action in January; Karen McLintock arguably holds stronger claims with the recent jumpers' bumper scorer Zabeel Star.

Form: 5/0266-7

Forecasts

Kaizer (3/1), Nataleena (10/3), Zabeel Star (9/2), Major Snugfit (8/1), Nearly There (12/1), Urban Spirit (14/1), Bravantina (16/1), Call Me Madam (16/1), Life Knowledge (16/1), Shine Baby Shine (16/1), Imperial Focus (25/1), Good Man (25/1), Ice Galley (33/1), Question Of Faith (50/1)

An interesting opener which features a wealth of previous C&D form to dissect. Zabeel Star finished off strongly to thwart a gamble on the Keith Dalgleish-trained Dark Lochnager in a slow ground jumpers' bumper here 18 days ago, and rates as the form pick of the Karen McLintock trio (also saddles Urban Spirit and Good Man). The filly Nataleena is a real force to be reckoned with at this track (granted a good early gallop) and she's a definite contender for Ben Haslam. However, we'll chance that MAJOR SNUGFIT can overcome his disadvantageous wide draw (stall 13) and gain reward for a series of consistent efforts since switched to the care of Rebecca Menzies.