13:45 Newcastle

Saturday 12 December 2020

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0016:3017:00

Betway Handicap

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 3m 35.28s

(2)

Lopes Dancer³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Josephine Gordon| T: W Bethell| OR: 74| C

33/1

Four-time course winner. First run since leaving Brian Ellison when 2½ lengths fourth of 7 to Ravenscar in handicap at this C&D (33/1) 32 days ago, very much having run of race.

Form: 64-3424

(1)

Snookered²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Harry Russell⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 72| CD

33/1

Latest win at Catterick in August. Fell in novice chase at Catterick (19.2f, good to soft, 5/1) 22 days ago. Fair on the Flat.

Form: 4-82516

(5)

Manjaam^p,t⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Laura Pearson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Loughnane| OR: 69

5/1

Twenty five runs since last win in 2018. Good second of 8 in handicap at Wolverhampton (14f, 9/2) 4 days ago. Has to be taken seriously despite losing run.

Form: 454252

(3)

Ravenscar¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Rossa Ryan| T: P A Kirby| OR: 69| BF| CD

11/2

C&D winner. Winner here in November. Good ¾-length second of 8 to Rukwa in handicap (15/8) at this C&D 11 days ago, clear of rest.

Form: 773312

(6)

Rukwa¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: G Lee| T: S England| OR: 66| CD

9/2

16/5, career best when winning 8-runner handicap at this C&D 11 days ago by ¾ length from Ravenscar, staying on well. Ought to be a factor again up 4 lb.

Form: 040721

(7)

Wemyss Point^b²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: K Stott| T: P A Kirby| OR: 62

15/2

Creditable third of 11 in handicap (6/1) at this C&D 25 days ago, well positioned.

Form: 8/8-6823

(4)

Kaizer²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: T Eaves| T: A C Whillans| OR: 61| D

22/1

Respectable fifth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Haydock (18.9f, heavy, 16/1) 21 days ago.

Form: 416-027

(9)

Voix Du Reve^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 56| D

11/4

Useful winner at 20f over hurdles. Cheekpieces on for first time, 12 lengths fourth of 6 to Epatante in Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle (16.2f, good, 200/1) 14 days ago. First Flat run since 2015.

Form: 0/

(8)

Jen's Fella²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Cieren Fallon| T: Ian Williams| OR: 59

7/1

22/1, first run since leaving Richard Hannon when very good fourth of 14 in handicap at Lingfield (15.8f, AW) 28 days ago, left poorly placed. Makes tapeta debut and he's unexposed.

Form: 50964

Forecasts

Voix Du Reve (11/4), Rukwa (9/2), Manjaam (5/1), Ravenscar (11/2), Jen's Fella (7/1), Wemyss Point (15/2), Kaizer (22/1), Snookered (33/1), Lopes Dancer (33/1)

Backing VOIX DU REVE on his first Flat start since 2015 clearly comes with risks attached, but the handicapper has taken a big chance with him given his NH ability, so he may well be worth the risk, Manjaam doesn't find winning easy but is expected to go close, along with recent C&D scorer Rukwa.