17:25 Newcastle

Monday 21 December 2020

All13:5514:2514:5515:2515:5516:2516:5517:25

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 1m 12.54s

(1)

Phoenix Star^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: Jessica Macey| OR: 65| D

9/2

Three wins from 16 runs this year. 2/1, career best when winning 9-runner handicap at Kempton (6f) 21 days ago, battling well. Not taken lightly.

Form: 523411

(12)

Jan Van Hoof³²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Barry McHugh| T: M Herrington| OR: 65| C| D

33/1

Course winner. 1 win from 3 runs this year. 8/1, last of 10 in handicap at Southwell (6.1f). Off 10 months and this 9-y-o is probably worth taking on.

Form: 007-810

(14)

Scale Force¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: George Bass⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 64

11/1

Eyeshields on for 1st time, bit below form fifth of 9 in handicap (11/1) at Southwell (6.1f) 13 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 980435

(6)

Good Night Mr Tom¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: T Eaves| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 64| D

12/1

Eleventh of 13 in handicap at this C&D (16/1) 17 days ago. Easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 002960

(5)

Epeius^v³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: A Mullen| T: B Haslam| OR: 63| CD

14/1

Four-time C&D winner. Latest win at Ayr in July. 18/1, tenth of 14 in handicap at this C&D 31 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 514800

(7)

War of Clans¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Gemma Tutty⁽³⁾| T: K Tutty| OR: 63| D

50/1

100/1, first run since leaving K. R. Burke when below form eighth of 13 in handicap at this C&D 17 days ago. Fair bit to prove at present.

Form: 865488

(3)

Etikaal³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 62| BF| CD

3/1

C&D winner. Eleven runs since last win in 2019. Creditable third of 14 in handicap at this C&D (4/1) 34 days ago, not clear run. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 248043

(4)

Afro Blue¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Shane Gray| T: M Appleby| OR: 62

20/1

First run since leaving Richard Hannon when last of 13 in handicap at this C&D (14/1) 17 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 585580

(9)

My Friend Stan^p1⁷⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Hart| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 62

12/1

17/2, last of 14 in handicap at Southwell (6.1f) 76 days ago. Makes tapeta debut on first run for yard after leaving Mark Johnston and cheekpieces on 1st time. Looks up against it.

Form: 286500

(13)

Prophecy¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Rowan Scott| T: T J FitzGerald| OR: 62

6/1

Below form sixth of 13 in handicap at this C&D (15/2) 17 days ago, needing stiffer test. Each-way shout if he puts his best foot forward.

Form: 290026

(11)

Daysaq²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: D C Costello| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 61

8/1

5/1, respectable fifth of 9 in handicap at Chelmsford City (6f) 28 days ago, finishing with running left. Certainly not without each-way hope off the same mark here.

Form: 9-99025

(2)

Dubai Elegance^p⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Cam Hardie| T: D Shaw| OR: 57| BF| D

10/1

14/1, good second of 12 in handicap at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 6 days ago, nearest finish. Another bold show likely off the same mark.

Form: 860422

(8)

Kommander Kirkup³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 8-3| J: Faye McManoman⁽³⁾| T: M Herrington| OR: 47| D

50/1

Temperamental sort. Thirteen runs since last win in 2018. Twelfth of 14 in handicap at this C&D (50/1) 34 days ago. Hard to warm to.

Form: 5-75400

(10)

Jordan's Chris⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: D Fentiman| T: A C Whillans| OR: 45

150/1

Twelfth of 13 in handicap (150/1) at this course (8f) 52 days ago, slowly away. Back down in trip and she's likely to struggle once more.

Form: 64/80-00

Forecasts

Etikaal (3/1), Phoenix Star (9/2), Prophecy (6/1), Daysaq (8/1), Dubai Elegance (10/1), Scale Force (11/1), Good Night Mr Tom (12/1), My Friend Stan (12/1), Epeius (14/1), Afro Blue (20/1), Jan Van Hoof (33/1), Kommander Kirkup (50/1), War of Clans (50/1), Jordan's Chris (150/1)

Preference is for ETIKAAL, who was successful here twice in 2019 and left the impression that his turn may again be near when making the frame in a couple of handicaps here last month. Dubai Elegance has been knocking on the door of late and she should be in the thick of things, while Daysaq, who caught the eye last time, and the hat-trick seeking Phoenix Star are others to consider.