19:10 Newcastle

Saturday 23 January 2021

All16:0516:4017:1017:4018:1018:4019:10

Betway Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 19:10 | Winning time: 1m 11.42s

(5)

Fortamour^p⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Oliver Stammers| T: B Haslam| OR: 87| C| D

9/4

Course winner but off the track since only fourteenth of 15 in handicap at Doncaster (7f) 91 days ago. Not out of it if hitting the ground running on return.

Form: 233310-

(4)

Jack The Truth^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: William Carver| T: George Scott| OR: 85| D

10/1

Three wins from 8 runs last year, and showed his well being after three-month break with good third of 8 in handicap at Wolverhampton (5.1f) 12 days ago. Player off unchanged mark.

Form: 60113-3

(9)

Alnasherat⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Laura Pearson⁽³⁾| T: A West| OR: 81| D

10/1

16/1, only eleventh of 13 in handicap at Catterick (7f) 98 days ago and has left James Tate. Something to prove now on yard debut after his break.

Form: 341/030-

(8)

Portugueseprincess^b1⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Joanna Mason| T: A Watson| OR: 80| D

6/1

Not proving the easiest to catch right, and only eighth of 9 in handicap at Southwell (7.1f) 46 days ago. Blinkers on now with others more persuasive.

Form: 204628-

(7)

Mutabaahy¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Tyler Heard⁽³⁾| T: A Brittain| OR: 79| C| D

14/1

Four-time winner last year, including at this course, but only sixth of 8 in handicap at Wolverhampton (5.1f) 12 days ago. Needs to get back on track now.

Form: 65117-6

(6)

Spartan Fighter^v¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Harry Russell| T: A Brittain| OR: 78| D

6/1

Latest win at Wolverhampton in December but unable to back it up when fifth of 6 in handicap at this C&D 11 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 07081-5

(2)

Athollblair Boy¹²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Gaia Boni⁽⁵⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 75| CD

15/2

4-time C&D winner but he ended last term under something of cloud on turf. Returns from 129-day break now and handily weighted if primed for his comeback.

Form: 657800-

(3)

Tukhoom^v²²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-8| J: George Bass⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 72| D

25/1

Fairly useful winner on turf last season but not at his best of late, only third of 4 in handicap at Southwell (8.1f) 22 days ago. Visor back on but not easy to make a case for.

Form: 06959-3

(1)

Lucky Lodge^v²

Age: 11| Weight: 8-6| J: Kieran Schofield⁽³⁾| T: A Brittain| OR: 70| CD

11/2

5-time C&D winner. Respectable fourth of 8 in handicap (6/1) at this C&D 2 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 04628-4

Forecasts

Fortamour (9/4), Lucky Lodge (11/2), Spartan Fighter (6/1), Portugueseprincess (6/1), Athollblair Boy (15/2), Alnasherat (10/1), Jack The Truth (10/1), Mutabaahy (14/1), Tukhoom (25/1)

Lots of these have question marks against them so this looks an excellent opportunity for JACK THE TRUTH to get back to winning ways after posting a solid recent third at Wolverhampton after a break. Both Fortamour and Athollblairboy also return from absences here but are weighted to have a say so can't be dismissed lightly.