15:05 Newcastle

Friday 11 March 2022

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

QuinnBet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:07 | Winning time: 4m 0.60s

Alghazaal^t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 98

7/2

Fairly useful on the Flat for Michael Bell and while he hasn't pulled up any tress in a trio of novice hurdles, improvement may well be forthcoming now that ventures down the handicap route.

Form: 577

Living's Boy An Co⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Oakley Brown⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 96

16/1

Remains a maiden following 13 attempts under Rules and unlikely to buck that trend here.

Form: 4U5685

Wilhelm Vonvenster²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Mark Galligan⁽⁷⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 93

9/1

Gained his breakthrough win at Sedgefield in November, and was starting to motor when unseating rider 2 out in a Doncaster handicap (16.6f) last time. Claims off the same mark here.

Form: 0/6184U

Geyser¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Thomas Dowson| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 92

100/1

Winner of a 2m juvenile hurdle back in 2019, but lightly-raced since and was pulled up when returning from a lengthy absence at Carlisle recently.

Form: 51/0P-P

Phoenix Strike⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 89

6/1

Modest maiden on the Flat and similar story over hurdles so far. That said, he was a respectable third on handicap debut in this sphere at Sedgefield (16.8f) last time and he's not discounted.

Form: 4703

Monfass^h¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Dylan Johnston⁽¹⁰⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 85

9/2

Missed whole of last season and his comeback runs at Kelso and Ayr in the autumn were hardly inspiring. There were more encouraging signs over this C&D recently, though, and couldn't rule out.

Form: 443/005

Ripplet^h³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 84

11/1

Bumper winner for Hughie Morrison in 2018, but she hasn't shown much spark in a handful of appearances over hurdles.

Form: 16/6F68

One Step Too Far⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 81

5/1

Fair maiden on Flat up to 1¼m. Showed a bit in a couple of maiden hurdles last spring and wasn't disgraced in a Doncaster handicap (16.6f) in January, but this demands a step forward.

Form: 76-7PP4

Mahanakhon Power^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 80WS

8/1

Fair 11f Flat winner, but yet to match that form in 4 attempts over hurdles, including on handicap bow at Sedgefield last time. Since undergone a wind op and cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 5446

Jamil^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 77

11/1

Three-time winner on the Flat. Yet to strike following half-a-dozen starts in this sphere, but latest effort can be excused and he has claims judged on his improved display at Kelso in January.

Form: 676545

Non-Runners

Scorchin¹³³

Weight: 10-8| Age: 8

T: J Parkinson & S Smith J: Thomas Willmott

Forecasts

Alghazaal (7/2), Monfass (9/2), One Step Too Far (5/1), Phoenix Strike (6/1), Mahanakhon Power (8/1), Wilhelm Vonvenster (9/1), Jamil (11/1), Ripplet (11/1), Scorchin (12/1), Living's Boy An Co (16/1), Geyser (100/1)

Though he has failed to shine in novice company, Flat-winner ALGHAZAAL could be about to take a significant step forward now pitched into a handicap. It will look significant if the market speaks in his favour and, if that proves to be the case, the hint should be taken. Jamil is feared most on account of his effort at Kelso in January, while Monfass and Wilhelm Vonvenster are others to consider.