19:30 Newcastle

Thursday 11 March 2021

All16:5517:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Bombardier Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 19:32 | Winning time: 1m 41.39s

(10)

Velma²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Hart| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 67| CD

6/1

C&D winner who again wasn't seen to best effect when seventh of 9 in handicap (7/1) over C&D 23 days ago, left with too much to do. Has fallen to an appealing mark.

Form: 6100-77

(7)

Exhalation²⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: Phillip Makin| OR: 65

100/1

Lightly-raced maiden who ran too badly to be true on Chepstow handicap debut when last seen in August. First run for yard after leaving Mark Johnston.

Form: 7/049-

(11)

Merricourt^p¹⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 64| D

50/1

Latest win at Musselburgh in September. 17/2, eleventh of 13 in handicap at Musselburgh (9f, heavy). Off 150 days.

Form: 561750-

(5)

Glengarry⁹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: D Brooke| OR: 63| CD

7/2

Unreliable sort. C&D winner. 25/1, tenth of 13 in handicap at this course (6f). Off 97 days. Significantly back up in trip.

Form: 040060-

(3)

Polar Cloud^b³⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: H Main| OR: 62

18/1

Fair form first 2 starts in novice events. Disappointed final outing but now goes handicapping after 12 months off with Hollie Doyle in the saddle, so worth a market check.

Form: 7/74-

(9)

Antagonize³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 61| C

10/3

Eleven runs since last win in 2018, but turned another good effort when ½-length second of 14 to Broctune Red in handicap at this C&D 34 days ago, sticking to task. Shortlist material.

Form: 6979-62

(6)

Broctune Red³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Oliver Stammers⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 60| CD

13/8

Didn't need to be at best when winning 14-runner handicap at this C&D (11/8) 34 days ago by ½ length from Antagonize. Consistent sort, so should go well in hat-trick bid.

Form: 152-211

(4)

Oakmont^t⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: P Hanagan| T: James Moffatt| OR: 59

125/1

Fair hurdler who shaped as if back in form in a jumpers bumper here last time and is potentially well treated now returning to this code.

Form: 87560/5-

(8)

Panzertank^t⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Billy Garritty⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 59

50/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Fifth of 9 in maiden (33/1) at Southwell (7.1f) 60 days ago. Makes handicap debut and improvement required.

Form: 87-5

(1)

Aiden's Reward⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: B Haslam| OR: 53| CD

22/1

C&D winner. Below form eighth of 13 in handicap at this C&D (7/1) 86 days ago.

Form: 212598-

(2)

Vertice⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: T Eaves| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 51

14/1

Run best excused when 12¼ lengths fifth of 10 to Broctune Red over C&D (11/2) 42 days ago, making effort earlier than ideal. Her previous form is working out quite well, so not one to write off.

Form: 0566-25

Forecasts

Broctune Red (13/8), Antagonize (10/3), Glengarry (7/2), Velma (6/1), Vertice (14/1), Polar Cloud (18/1), Aiden's Reward (22/1), Merricourt (50/1), Panzertank (50/1), Exhalation (100/1), Oakmont (125/1)

A chance is taken on VELMA, who has fallen to an appealing mark having not been seen to best effect in a pair of handicaps this year. Antagonize is unexposed at this trip, so may well be capable of reversing form with the reopposing Broctune Red.