13:55 Newcastle

Friday 11 March 2022

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:20

Cazoo Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 6m 0.30s

Songofthelark^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: P W Wadge⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 91

50/1

Minor promise only over hurdles and made inauspicious start over fences, failing to complete on both outings last month. Back over timber here and will need to leave previous efforts behind.

Form: 9-345UP

Geonice^h⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Aaron Anderson| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 90

8/1

Opened his account in 23f Hexham handicap in October before very good second next time. First-time hood failed to spark any further improvement 3 months ago so bounce back required on reappearance.

Form: 003126

Freethinker^t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Lily Pinchin| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 88| C

85/40

Heading in the right direction since fitted with a tongue tie, putting it all together when winning 16-runner handicap hurdle here (22f) last month. Up 8 lb for that but he remains of interest.

Form: 7U-9521

Contrebasse^p¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: D Brooke| OR: 87

50/1

Fair performer on Flat but hasn't reached that level in 6 hurdle starts, managing to complete but running poorly here 13 days ago. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: 974-7F0

Gemini Fire⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Oakley Brown| T: H Hogarth| OR: 83

66/1

Placed on the first of 2 starts in points but has looked one for the longer term under Rules judged on first three hurdling efforts, pulled up at Catterick most recently. Handicap debut today.

Form: 2F-78P

Veshenskaya^h⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁷⁾| T: A Crook| OR: 82WS

10/1

Beaten a fair way on the majority of her starts over hurdles, fifth of 12 in handicap at Doncaster (24.4f, soft) 59 days ago. Hopes pinned on a breathing operation sparking a revival.

Form: 5-V0465

Our Idic Boy¹⁰⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 80| BF| CD

15/8

Opened his account over hurdles over C&D in November and backed it up when second at Ludlow, albeit rather throwing his chance away by hanging left. Can make his presence after a break.

Form: P/84-412

Ribeye¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Thomas Willmott| T: P Atkinson| OR: 79

11/2

Better since upped to 3m, seventh in a big-field Wetherby handicap on penultimate start. Prominent when fell at the last at Catterick 10 days ago so rates a player if none the worse from that spill.

Form: 50727F

Joanna I'm Fine³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 77

33/1

First form when remote second of 4 in a weak 21f novice hurdle at Sedgefield last month. Needs to show she can back that up now handicapping over a longer trip.

Form: 09902

That's My Dubai¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁵⁾| T: J K Hunter| OR: 73

150/1

Arrives well out of sorts, tailed-off ninth from well out of the handicap at Catterick 10 days ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 6-0PPP9

Dunnottar Castle²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Bruce Lynn| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 71

40/1

Modest in bumpers but hasn't shown enough over hurdles to make him of interest, first-time cheekpieces failing to make an impact last time.

Form: 59-P70P

Songbird's Tale³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Mark Galligan⁽⁵⁾| T: Paul Collins| OR: 69

80/1

No form under Rules so far. Upped in trip for handicap debut today.

Form: 98-6487

Stitch Up⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 68

16/1

Maiden hurdler who hasn't offered a great deal in eight starts over hurdles so far, pulled up on his last 2 outings.

Form: 488-9PP

Non-Runners

Torngat¹⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: T Davidson J: Tom Midgley

Bonny Houxty²⁴

Weight: 11-2| Age: 9

T: D W Whillans J: Theo Gillard

Ange Endormi⁴

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: B Pauling J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Our Idic Boy (15/8), Freethinker (85/40), Ange Endormi (7/2), Ribeye (11/2), Geonice (8/1), Veshenskaya (10/1), Bonny Houxty (10/1), Torngat (16/1), Stitch Up (16/1), Joanna I'm Fine (33/1), Dunnottar Castle (40/1), Contrebasse (50/1), Songofthelark (50/1), Gemini Fire (66/1), Songbird's Tale (80/1), That's My Dubai (150/1)

A tricky opener to solve but RIBEYE was in the process of showing improved form when departing late at Catterick 10 days ago so, as long as he's none the worse from that spill, he can make amends here. Our Idic Boy could give the selection most to think about on return from a 3-month break provided his wayward finishing effort at Ludlow was just a one-off, ahead of Freethinker.