13:50 Newcastle

Thursday 10 December 2020

All11:4512:1512:4513:2013:5014:2514:5515:25

Watch And Bet At MansionBet Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 13:52 | Winning time: 4m 4.7s

Notre Ami²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Ross Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 102| D

14/1

Fair handicap hurdler/chaser for Nick Gifford but low-key start for new yard in hurdle/chase this autumn.

Form: 9/530-P7

Cuba Ruba^b,t1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 100

10/1

Modest Flat winner who failed to improve for the switch to handicap company over hurdles when seventh at Sedgefield 16 days ago. Now has a blinkers and tongue tie combination replacing cheekpieces.

Form: 4367

Echo Express⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr Lyall Hodgins⁽⁷⁾| T: A Robson| OR: 96| D

7/1

Not the most reliable but he did shape quite well behind a couple of unexposed sorts at Carlisle (2½m) 7 weeks ago. Drop back to 2m could help. Capable off this mark.

Form: 461-F73

Blueskyandsunshine⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 93WS

9/2

Fair maiden at his best but no impact in 2 handicaps at the end of the summer. A 3-month break needs to have made a difference (has had wind surgery).

Form: 7-26589

Red Ochre^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 92

10/3

Remains a maiden after 19 runs but there's nothing wrong with his placed efforts on his last 2 starts. Likely to be competitive again.

Form: 24/6-523

Infinite Sun^p1²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁵⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 90

50/1

Market Rasen bumper winner on debut but that was back in 2016 and he hasn't done much in a light career since, including tailed off on both starts for this yard. Cheekpieces now on for first time.

Form: 8763/00

Tortuga Bay^p1⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 89

12/1

Only beaten 5 lengths into fourth in sole bumper. Has struggled over hurdles since but this switch to handicap company provides her with a more realistic chance. Also has cheekpieces added.

Form: 14/8P-8

Minella Fiveo⁴¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Alexander Fielding⁽⁷⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 88| D

4/1

Winner of back-to-back Market Rasen handicaps during 2018/19 campaign. Struggled last season but hinted at revival when fifth of 13 on Uttoxeter return 6 weeks ago. Well treated if building on that.

Form: 84854-5

Elusive Red⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 87

66/1

Some promise in bumpers but none over hurdles, including pulling up on Ayr handicap debut in October.

Form: 9006-PP

Temple Guide²⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: C O'Farrell| T: J Walton| OR: 83

22/1

Didn't achieve much in 3 novice hurdles last season (distant third first occasion) but does have the potential for better now handicapping.

Form: 7/6397-

Cryogenics^p,t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 79| D

8/1

Won selling event at Fakenham in February. Well held first 4 runs this season but back to form out of the blue when second at Sedgefield 4 weeks ago. Claims if he can back that up.

Form: U-96902

Madam Scully^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 67

50/1

Poor maiden hurdler who was last of 11 on her Sedgefield reappearance 5 weeks ago. 7 lb out of the handicap here. Tongue tie refitted.

Form: 7/7530-0

Non-Runners

Rann Of Kutch²

Weight: 10-0| Age: 5

T: M E Sowersby J: Danny McMenamin

Forecasts

Red Ochre (10/3), Minella Fiveo (4/1), Blueskyandsunshine (9/2), Echo Express (7/1), Cryogenics (8/1), Cuba Ruba (10/1), Tortuga Bay (12/1), Notre Ami (14/1), Temple Guide (22/1), Rann Of Kutch (33/1), Infinite Sun (50/1), Madam Scully (50/1), Elusive Red (66/1)

ECHO EXPRESS shaped with a bit of promise for his new yard last time and might be worth siding with here after dipping to just 1 lb higher than when successful at Carlisle in March. The veteran Minella Fiveo is well treated if able to build on a reasonably encouraging run at Uttoxeter. Red Ochre has been placed on his last 2 starts and ought to be competitive again.