19:15 Newcastle

Friday 4 February 2022

All16:1016:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:15

MansionBet Beaten By A Head Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 19:16 | Winning time: 1m 28.92s

(7)

Shalaa Asker^t³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Ryan Sexton⁽⁷⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 72

4/1

Fourteen runs since last win in 2020. 4/1, creditable second of 8 in handicap at this course (7.1f) 38 days ago. Unexposed at this trip, so makes plenty of appeal.

Form: 338542-

(5)

Athollblair Boy⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Sophie Clements⁽⁷⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 68| CD

33/1

6-time course winner. 8/1, third of 4 in handicap at this course (6f) 8 days ago. Not firing at present.

Form: 4566-73

(6)

Vindobala^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: O McSweeney⁽⁵⁾| T: T Collier| OR: 66| BF| CD

7/4

C&D winner. Latest win here in December. Good neck second of 9 to Abnaa in handicap at this course (7.1f, 2/1) 14 days ago, conceding first run. Strong claims.

Form: 93313-2

(8)

Kentuckyconnection²²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: Gianluca Sanna⁽⁵⁾| T: B Smart| OR: 65| CD

20/1

4-time course winner. 18/1, seventh of 8 in handicap at this course (8f) 22 days ago. Bit to prove at the moment.

Form: 47988-7

(3)

Abnaa^b⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Mark Winn⁽⁷⁾| T: A Brittain| OR: 62| CD

3/1

C&D winner. Latest win here in January. 9/2, creditable fifth of 9 in handicap at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 4 days ago, not having run of race. Can make his presence felt in a well-run race.

Form: 7-24515

(2)

Thaayer¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Billy Garritty| T: M Herrington| OR: 62| CD

12/1

C&D winner. Creditable fourth of 13 in handicap (8/1) at Southwell (7.1f) 19 days ago, having run of race. Vulnerable to better-treated rivals.

Form: 0803-34

(1)

Elixsoft¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Gemma Tutty| T: K Tutty| OR: 61| CD

50/1

C&D winner. 13½ lengths seventh of 9 to Abnaa in handicap (25/1) at this course (7.1f) 14 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 5486-67

(9)

Viva Voce⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Christian Howarth⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Barron| OR: 60| D

13/2

Career best when winning 10-runner handicap (5/2) at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 88 days ago. Likely to go well again with promising claimer on board.

Form: 366921-

(4)

Ustath⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Mark Crehan| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 60

40/1

6/1, tenth of 13 in handicap at this course (6f). Off 94 days. Becoming well treated, so dangerous if he can bounce back after a break.

Form: 624580-

Forecasts

Vindobala (7/4), Abnaa (3/1), Shalaa Asker (4/1), Viva Voce (13/2), Thaayer (12/1), Kentuckyconnection (20/1), Athollblair Boy (33/1), Ustath (40/1), Elixsoft (50/1)

VINDOBALA has been in terrific form this winter and shaped best when second to the re-opposing Abnaa over C&D a fortnight ago, so he's fancied to get back to winning ways at the likely expense of Shalaa Asker, who is on a good mark and unexposed over 7f. Viva Voce is also on the radar.