17:30 Newcastle

Saturday 10 April 2021

All13:1513:5314:3315:0515:4016:1016:4517:30

Vertem Investing For The Future Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 17:33 | Winning time: 5m 8.85s

Rukwa¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 99| BF

13/8

2m AW Flat winner here in December and made a encouraging return to hurdles when second over 2m at Wetherby last month. Back up in trip. Looks capable of winning off this mark.

Form: F-36872

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Dancing Doug²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: A C Whillans| OR: 96| BF

8/1

Fourth in a couple of jumpers bumpers to start 2021 and not disgraced when 15 lengths third back hurdling at Carlisle in February. Disputing third when fell back there since. Respected.

Form: 07443F

Savoy Court^t¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: D B Hurst⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 95

20/1

Fairly useful 21f hurdle winner for Warren Greatrex in 2018. Nowhere near that level in 5 chase starts for this yard but hinted at a revival back hurdling here (3m) last month. Not discounted.

Form: 4U/P-PP4

Ballycrystal¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 93| C| D

8/1

It's now 25 runs since his last win in 2018 and he wasn't at his best when 18 lengths fifth of 7 at Market Rasen last time.

Form: 992035

Fernhill Lad⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Grant Cockburn| T: N W Alexander| OR: 91

28/1

Yet to show much around 2m, including a couple of handicaps, so this longer trip needs to spark improvement.

Form: 6-09588

Izzy's Champion^p,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 90| D

14/1

Modest maiden hurdler/chaser. Remote third back hurdling and may have to wait a little longer for that first win.

Form: 463P63

Goodtimes Badtimes⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Callum Bewley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 88

7/1

No better than modest form in his 3 qualifying runs (remote third at Musselburgh first occasion) but does rate a potential improver in handicaps. Needs keeping an eye on in the betting.

Form: 376

Bravantina^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 87

5/1

Modest 2m winner on Flat who hasn't been disgraced in handicaps of late. Ought to be competitive again.

Form: 6-55554

Baby Jane³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 81

40/1

Little sign of ability in a bumpers/novice hurdles but did appear to be making headway when falling 3 out on Musselburgh handicap debut last month.

Form: 6786-8F

Kitty's Cove¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Danny McMenamin| T: M Todhunter| OR: 77

16/1

Modest winning stayer on the Flat. No impact in novice hurdles but rates a possible improver now handicapping off a basement mark.

Form: P-96

Kilcaragh Boy^t²³

Age: 12| Weight: 10-1| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: R J Armson| OR: 74| D

20/1

Veteran who ended a long losing run at Hexham in October and bounced back from a couple of poor runs when third over 3m there last month.

Form: 59-15P3

Bells Of Barnack^v1¹⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: R T Dunne| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 70

50/1

Poor form only start in bumpers and has yet to make any impact over hurdles, including in handicaps the last twice. Visored first time back from 6 months off. Could only consider if backed.

Form: 0PU80-9

Non-Runners

Mcgarry³⁴

Weight: 10-5| Age: 7

T: P A Kirby J: Thomas Dowson

Forecasts

Rukwa (13/8), Bravantina (5/1), Goodtimes Badtimes (7/1), Ballycrystal (8/1), Dancing Doug (8/1), Mcgarry (10/1), Izzy's Champion (14/1), Kitty's Cove (16/1), Kilcaragh Boy (20/1), Savoy Court (20/1), Fernhill Lad (28/1), Baby Jane (40/1), Bells Of Barnack (50/1)

The fact RUKWA has won over 2m on the Flat suggests this sort of trip could be within range over hurdles so he gets the nod to build on his encouraging Wetherby second. Kitty's Cove has won a couple of times on the Flat and rates a possible improver now handicapping for the first time over hurdles. McGarry would also come into it if the betting vibes are strong.