14:05 Newcastle
Saturday 6 June 2020
All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:3017:0517:4018:15
Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap
- 4YO plus  |  Class 2  |  7f 14y  |  Standard  |  12 Runners  |  Allweather  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 14:06Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 1m 25.56s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Smart handicapper who took two competitive handicaps last year; ran a stormer when last seen at Ascot in the summer of 2019 taking second in a heritage handicap. A four-time winner at 7f this will be his first outing on any synthetic surface.
Useful sort (lightly-raced); won his first two career starts at Haydock (7f/1m) from the front both times. Nearly pulled off the same tactics on handicap debut at York (1m, firm), ran a sound race when last seen; unexposed, may have more to offer.
Recovered from a poor debut with a 6f course win (late-2018), only seen twice since. Successful in a Kempton novice before showing rapid progression to finish second in a 1m Listed contest here last April; handicap newcomer, could be ahead of mark.
Useful performer (front-runner); failed to impress on first start for this yard (straight back from a wind op) without usual headgear. Handicapper gives him a chance but he faces competition for the lead, folded quite tamely last time; more needed.
Fresh from wind surgery cheekpieces are also applied for the first-time. Only had three races last year (ran well on second start); 2-3 on the AW (both wins on Fibresand); appears the stable second string but not badly handicapped off this mark.
His one AW run so far came here as a 2yo (second start) finishing second as an odds-on favourite. Took two handicaps last year (6f/7f), form tailed off a little after his last win; has won off a 185 day break, may have benefitted from a break.
Front-runner, goes without any headgear for the first time in a while returning from further wind surgery. More highly rated on AW his record on the Wolverhampton Tapeta (1223) bodes well; will face competition for the lead though.
Showed useful form when resuming winning ways by a wide margin over 1m here last time out (paid for that win with a 13lb rise). Had the run of the race on that occasion (won't have such an easy time now); respected but this is a tougher ask.
3-6 on AW (won on a variety of synthetics); bounced back to form last time (7f, Fibresand), deserving extra credit in a race not run to suit. Usually held up (should get a good pace) he's 3lb higher and on a career-high mark, still looks of interest though.
With a new yard, left Gordon Elliott having been highly-tried last year (ran in three Listed contests at up to 7f). Gelded and with a hood on for the first time as he enters the handicap arena, type this capable yard could do well with, watch market.
Took advantage of a reduced mark to confirm some earlier promise when winning his last start at Newmarket (7f, heavy). Yet to run on the AW he's 6lb higher for that narrow victory (showed a good attitude), not one to rule out easily.
Scored back-to-back victories for this yard last summer over 1m but in a lesser grade than he faces now off a fair absence. Ended up last year merely ticking over; been found wanting above Class 4 handicaps before, makes limited appeal.
Forecasts
Daarik (2/1), Vitralite (3/1), Red Bond (7/1), King Of Tonga (8/1), Aljari (9/1), Kaeso (16/1), Lord Oberon (20/1), Ventura Ocean (25/1), Calder Prince (25/1), Gloves Lynch (33/1), Rousayan (80/1), Salateen (100/1)
There should be a fair pace on here as several of these like to go forward and that group would include Vitralite (still unexposed), Salateen, Calder Prince and Red Bond (stiffer task than when winning here last time). That quartet could well set the race up with Daarik looking one who could take advantage despite not being seen since finishing runner-up to the useful Fox Power in Listed company here over a year ago. It could turn out that his mark is a lenient one but a little value is sort by siding with ALJARI who handles a variety of AW surfaces and overcame in-running obstacles when winning last time out. Ventura Ocean and King Of Tonga two others who could figure in a competitive heat.
- Aljari
- Daarik
- Vitralite
Prize Money
1st: £9,452.002nd: £2,829.003rd: £1,414.004th: £708.005th: £352.00
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