16:45 Newcastle

Wednesday 7 April 2021

All16:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

QuinnBet Amateur Jockeys' Handicap

Off time: 16:49 | Winning time: 2m 12.74s

(2)

Humbert¹⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss Amy Collier⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 80| C

15/2

Course winner. Fifteen runs since last win in 2018. Ran no more than respectably in 2 runs for this yard last autumn but does return from a career-low mark.

Form: 337408-

(7)

Starfighter⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Miss Becky Smith| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 77| CD

4/5

Had a very good spell of late, winning over C&D in February and adding to tally at Wolverhampton last month. Only narrowly denied at latter track last time. Looks sure to go well again.

Form: 612212

(8)

Captain Haddock¹⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr Henry Main⁽⁷⁾| T: H Main| OR: 75

9/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Below form fifth of 9 in novice at Wolverhampton (12.2f) when last seen in October (final start for Harry Dunlop). New stable does well at this venue. Keep an eye on in betting.

Form: 4365-

(5)

Hotspur Harry^p¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: George Eddery⁽⁵⁾| T: R Eddery| OR: 74

17/2

Good second at Southwell in first-time cheekpieces in February but well below par twice since.

Form: 4-54270

(6)

Flood Defence¹⁰⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Miss Alisa McClung⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 69| D

20/1

Pair of 12.5f Musselburgh wins last summer. Just one good run in 3 handicap hurdles to end 2020 but is feasibly treated if ready to roll after a break.

Form: 511562-

(10)

Highland Sky^p1⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Mr Matt Brown⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 67

25/1

Newbury Flat winner for David Simcock in 2019. Has struggled over hurdles for new yard this winter so hopes pinned on a return to the Flat sparking him back to life.

Form: 348135/

(9)

Motaraabet⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Lewis Dobb⁽⁷⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 67| BF

20/1

Hard to get excited by his jumps efforts for this yard but he did show promise in 4 runs on the Flat for Owen Burrows at the start of his career so perhaps a return to the level will spark a revival.

Form: 7434/

(4)

Corked¹³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: Mr Connor Wood⁽⁵⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 63| CD

9/1

Three-time C&D winner. 11/2, creditable second of 10 in handicap at Chelmsford when last seen in November. Respected on return to action.

Form: 442432-

Non-Runners

(3)

Stamford Raffles⁶⁵

Weight: 10-6| Age: 8

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam J: Non Runner

(1)

Magnificia⁵⁹

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: Kenny Johnson J: Miss Lauren Sanders

Forecasts

Starfighter (4/5), Humbert (15/2), Hotspur Harry (17/2), Captain Haddock (9/1), Corked (9/1), Motaraabet (20/1), Flood Defence (20/1), Highland Sky (25/1), Magnificia (50/1)

STARFIGHTER stands out as an in-form sort in this line-up so is taken to land a third win of the year. Corked has a good course record so is likely to figure if primed after 131 days off. Heather Main does well with the runners she sends up here so the unexposed Captain Haddock needs monitoring closely in the betting on his return to action.