14:05 Newcastle

Tuesday 8 March 2022

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2016:50

Vickers.Bet And LHS Champion Racing Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 5m 3.61s

Smokey The Bandit^b³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 101| BF

13/2

Below expectations when second of 5 in handicap hurdle at this course (23.7f, good, 11/10) 35 days ago. Can remain competitive but others preferred for win purposes.

Form: 3-56832

Brandy Mcqueen⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ryan Mania| T: H Graham & G Rutherford| OR: 100

12/1

Failed to repeat his dubious Musselburgh effort when seventh of 8 in novice hurdle at Ayr (20.4f, soft) 65 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut and improvement needed.

Form: 8-4737

Barrakhov^p1,t⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 98| D

11/2

Took a step forward when off the mark in 14-runner handicap at Southwell (20.4f, soft, 5/1) 64 days ago. Cheekpieces on for 1st time. Should remain competitive.

Form: 5595-51

Fightfortheroses³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 96| D

28/1

7-y-o who belatedly shed maiden tag over jumps when successful at Sedgefield in January. Not in same form back there last time, though.

Form: 435318

Northern Falcon²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: C O'Farrell| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 95

12/1

Twice placed in bumpers and showed more than previously over hurdles when sixth in a 16.8f novice at Sedgefield 27 days ago. Back down in trip for handicap debut.

Form: 93-6756

Lockdown Leader⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Edward Austin⁽⁵⁾| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 94

10/1

Caught the eye on return in a hot Aintree maiden but has proved to be a disappointment both starts since. Left Evan Williams for £9,000 in January.

Form: 4P2-76P

En Couleur³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 93

14/1

Still to get his head in front but got back on track when third at Market Rasen in November and has finished runner-up on his completed start in points since. Must enter calculations.

Form: 4-803B2

Court At Slip^p⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 91

25/1

Lightly-raced 5yo who was in process of showing improved form when falling at the last on handicap debut at Catterick on New Year's Day. Didn't get close to backing that up at Wetherby since, though.

Form: 3-567F0

Johnson's Blue²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 90

25/1

Westerner gelding. Little impact in novice hurdles but is the type to do better now venturing into handicaps.

Form: 497

Rumble B^t,v⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Justin Landy| OR: 88

9/1

Remains a maiden after 18 NH runs but has been perked up by the fitting of a first-time visor and tongue strap lately, again running well when third at Catterick (19.3f) last week.

Form: 766043

Warriors Story⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 84WS

6/1

Fair form in bumpers for Keith Dalgleish and promise all 3 starts in novice hurdles. Steps back up in trip for handicap debut following a breathing operation and remains with potential.

Form: 348-885

Petite Rhapsody¹¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 83

25/1

Maiden who shaped nicely behind an improving one at Ayr (19.5f) in October. Left with too much to do there next time, so worth another chance after a break.

Form: 408F27

Keep The Faith⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 90

18/1

Fair maiden on the Flat (best effort at 1½m). Didn't achieve much in 3 hurdle starts for Michael & David Easterby but may do better now handicapping for new stable.

Form: U74

The Resdev Way¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 76

11/1

Fair on Flat and ran a solid race at Southwell 2 weeks ago, but remains with little form over hurdles.

Form: 784/P35-

Economic Editor^p1,t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁷⁾| T: A Nicol| OR: 72

7/1

Left previous efforts behind on just his second start in handicaps when second in 10-runner event at Wetherby (19.7f, heavy) 20 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Sure to be in the mix with a repeat.

Form: B90-P72

Non-Runners

Post Chaise¹²⁰

Weight: 10-10| Age: 5

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Barrakhov (11/2), Warriors Story (6/1), Smokey The Bandit (13/2), Economic Editor (7/1), Rumble B (9/1), Lockdown Leader (10/1), The Resdev Way (11/1), Northern Falcon (12/1), Brandy Mcqueen (12/1), En Couleur (14/1), Keep The Faith (18/1), Court At Slip (25/1), Petite Rhapsody (25/1), Johnson's Blue (25/1), Fightfortheroses (28/1), Post Chaise (33/1)

ECONOMIC EDITOR left his previous efforts well behind when a close second at Wetherby last month and a reproduction of that performance may be good enough to see him go one better here. Petite Rhapsody is worth another chance having been left with too much to do at Ayr last time, while Warriors Story is a potential improver now going handicapping following a breathing operation.