19:15 Newcastle

Friday 5 March 2021

All17:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Play 4 To Score At Betway Handicap

Off time: 19:19 | Winning time: 1m 12.91s

(6)

Red Alert^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: K Stott| T: A W Carroll| OR: 62| D

11/2

11/1, fifth of 6 in handicap at Wolverhampton (5f) 23 days ago. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 670-585

(9)

Epeius^v⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: A Mullen| T: B Haslam| OR: 61| CD

25/1

Four-time C&D winner but ended 2020 out of sorts. Short break needs to have revived.

Form: 148007-

(12)

Griggy^b³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: S Curran| OR: 60| D

10/1

Three wins from 15 runs last year. Latest win at Kempton in October. 12/1, not seen to best effect when fifth of 8 in handicap at Chelmsford (6f) 39 days ago. On a good mark.

Form: 08180-5

(11)

Kilconquhar^h²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Billy Garritty⁽³⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 60| CD

9/2

C&D winner in October. 12/1 and hooded for 1st time, good head second of 10 to reopposing Billy Wedge over C&D 22 days ago, finishing well. Merits consideration.

Form: 01299-2

(10)

Billy Wedge²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Hart| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 55| CD

3/1

All 3 wins here, the latest when holding on from Kilconquhar over this trip 22 days ago. 3 lb rise unlikely to prevent another prominent showing.

Form: 30000-1

(8)

Atrafan¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: P J McDonald| T: A D Brown| OR: 53| CD

6/1

Form: 9/61-145

(4)

Wicklow Warrior^p¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Sullivan| T: P D Niven| OR: 53| CD

10/1

Career best when winning 8-runner classified event over C&D 13 days ago, keeping on well. Ought to be competitive back in handicap.

Form: 648-621

(7)

Absolute Dream^v¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 52| D

11/2

One win from 29 Flat runs. Twenty one runs since last win in 2018. 6/1, creditable third of 9 in handicap at this course (1m) 17 days ago. Down in trip.

Form: 483-623

(3)

Star Cracker^p¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 8-7| J: Phil Dennis| T: J S Goldie| OR: 46| CD

66/1

Four-time C&D winner. Three wins from 13 runs last year. Latest win here in September. 5½ lengths fifth of 8 to Wicklow Warrior in C&D classified event 13 days ago. Dropped to a handy mark.

Form: 1400-35

(5)

Kroy^p¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: Paula Muir⁽³⁾| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 45| CD

40/1

C&D winner. Sixteen runs since last win in 2018. Creditable 2¾ lengths third of 8 to Wicklow Warrior in classified event over C&D 13 days ago.

Form: 9044-63

(2)

Deevious Beau²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Connor Beasley| T: T D Barron| OR: 45

22/1

Creditable third of 6 in handicap at Southwell (7f, 14/1) 24 days ago but more will be needed if he's to notch a first win here.

Form: 86-8783

(1)

Leo Minor^h¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: G Lee| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 45| D

100/1

Form: 356694

Forecasts

Billy Wedge (3/1), Kilconquhar (9/2), Absolute Dream (11/2), Red Alert (11/2), Atrafan (6/1), Griggy (10/1), Wicklow Warrior (10/1), Deevious Beau (22/1), Epeius (25/1), Kroy (40/1), Star Cracker (66/1), Leo Minor (100/1)

BILLY WEDGE is relatively unexposed as a sprinter and is taken to defy a small rise and confirm last month's narrow superiority over Kilconquhar. Griggy and Star Cracker are down to marks they really ought to be capable of going close from and also make the shortlist.