14:30 Newcastle
Tuesday 2 June 2020
All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2518:00
Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap
- 4YO plus | Class 2 | 6f | Standard / Slow | 11 Runners | Allweather | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 1m 11.85s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Course winner (7f) early in the New Year, and backed up with another solid effort in defeat (third) the following month; tends to race towards the fore so shouldn't be unduly inconvenienced by a first attempt at 6f.
Absent since finishing well down the field in the 2019 Ayr Gold Cup (6f); this six-time winner is yet to race on the AW, or score beyond 5½f; others would appear to be more likely candidates.
Without a win since the tail-end of the 2018 season and generally most effective (on turf) with cut underfoot; rated 2lb lower than when a ready 4½L winner in York's Listed Rockingham Stakes; gelded.
Versatile in terms of trip (5f-6f) and raced consistently throughout the duration of last season; from an identical handicap mark is entitled to have a major say if able to reproduce the form of his C&D second to Staxton (penultimate start).
C&D novice winner (June 2016) who has developed into a useful handicapper - most effective on soft to heavy ground; 3lb higher than when headed close home at York (6f) last October.
Justified market support when winning a 5f Class 3 handicap at Doncaster (soft) last June; largely acquitted himself respectably from an elevated mark thereafter but arguably has shown his best form at 5f.
Capable juvenile (6f winner) who has perhaps been set overly ambitious targets in the past; slowly away and never involved in Ascot's Listed Rous Stakes last October; absent since; gelded.
Cost $500,000 as a juvenile and is unbeaten on the AW - easily landing a pair of 6f novice contests at Wolverhampton and Kempton; dwelt when sent off favourite on handicap debut at Ascot (6f, soft) last October; retains plenty of potential.
Twice a winner on testing ground at Haydock (6f-7f); rounded off last season with a fair third to Bielsa in a 6f Class 2 Doncaster handicap (heavy); probably needs a career best in order to be competitive on AW debut.
Has shown ability on the AW (Polytrack) for J.P Murtgah, and returned in tip-top form early last season (for Roger Fell) with a Thirsk success (7f); sixth in the Ayr Silver Cup in October; high in the handicap, yet can't be totally dismissed.
Yet to race on the AW; rounded off last season with a third success on the Roodeye at Chester (7½f, good) when 2¼L too strong for the Ian Williams-trained Humble Gratitude; has questions to answer from a 5lb higher mark (career high).
Non-Runners
4
(6)
Growl234
Weight: 9-5| Age: 8
T: R A Fahey J: T Hamilton
WD
Forecasts
Mubakker (7/4), Glen Shiel (4/1), Cosmic Law (13/2), Admirality (11/1), True Mason (12/1), Justanotherbottle (14/1), Cold Stare (18/1), Hyperfocus (20/1), Vintage Brut (28/1), Growl (28/1), Gabrial The Wire (33/1), Camacho Chief (33/1)
A competitive handicap. Both Vintage Brut and True Mason are worthy of basic market scrutiny (first start as geldings), while the C&D novice winner Hyperfocus will appreciate the projected standard to slow going description. Meanwhile, the locally owned Cosmic Law is another who is entitled to have a major say for the triply-represented Richard Fahey. However, the most intriguing candidate is the promising four-year-old colt MUBAKKER. His trainer Sir Michael Stoute has a healthy 35%+ strike-rate on the AW at Newcastle, and this Shadwell representative is 2-2 on the AW to date (2-2).
- Mubakker
- Cosmic Law
- Hyperfocus
Prize Money
1st: £9,704.002nd: £2,888.003rd: £1,443.004th: £722.00
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