15:45 Newcastle

Saturday 20 March 2021

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:25

QuinnBet Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 5m 24.12s

Road Warrior^p,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: K Yeoman⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 110

10/3

Took 13 attempts to get the job done over fences, but he did it good style when coming home in splendid isolation at Sedgefield (21f, heavy) last month. 8 lb rise tolerable and he has to be feared.

Form: 462271

Cave Top^t,v¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 109| D

10/1

Regained the winning thread at Southwell in November. Has failed to fire in 2 subsequent starts, though, and his record is too patchy for comfort. Visor refitted.

Form: 4-P21P5

Ard Chros^p⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 108| D

9/1

More miss than hit subsequent to Carlisle success and while his latest effort there 9 days ago was fair, others make more appeal on balance.

Form: P14P73

Blakerigg⁵⁰⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 107| C| D

11/2

Beaten a fair way when runner-up at Ayr (21.5f, soft) on latest start in November 2019, but resumes on a 7 lb lower mark, he boasts a winning course form and the drying ground will aid his cause.

Form: 113P/22-

Thelongwayaround^p1¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 105| D

13/2

Fair hurdles winner who shaped pretty well when runner-up on second start over fences at Market Rasen in November 2019. However, well held both starts this season and now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 61/42-07

Don't Need To Know^t⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: D R Fox| T: R M Smith| OR: 95

4/1

Runner-up on Kelso chase debut in October and performed to a similar level when third at Catterick 2 months later. Not so good the last twice, but possibilities off this career-low mark nonetheless.

Form: 3U4346

Too Wise Man^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Ross Chapman| T: M A Barnes| OR: 95

9/1

Winner of sole start between the flags, but has gone in the wrong direction subsequent to an encouraging Rules debut at Hexham in June 2019.

Form: 3U2-4P6

Lastin' Memories^b¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 94| C

12/1

Kelso winner last term and placed on a couple of occasions this season, including when second back at that venue a fortnight ago. Each-way shout.

Form: 4-P3PP2

Knocknamona⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 92| C| D

18/1

Successful at Bangor before a good second back over hurdles at Uttoxeter. Well held returned to this sphere on his last 2 starts, though, and he's probably worth taking on.

Form: P8127P

Non-Runners

Mah Mate Bob¹⁴

Weight: 11-7| Age: 9

T: G Bewley J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Road Warrior (10/3), Don't Need To Know (4/1), Blakerigg (11/2), Thelongwayaround (13/2), Ard Chros (9/1), Too Wise Man (9/1), Cave Top (10/1), Mah Mate Bob (10/1), Lastin' Memories (12/1), Knocknamona (18/1)

There are reasons to be optimistic where BLAKERIGG is concerned, despite the fact that he has a 16-month absence to overcome, and Nicky Richards' charge earns the vote in an open-looking contest. Road Warrior won by a street at Sedgefield last time and he is a much-respected main danger. Don't Need To Know and Lastin' Memories can do battle for minor honours.