16:40 Newcastle

Friday 30 September 2022

All16:4017:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Begbies Traynor Group Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 1m 27.87s

(5)

Anif⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Russell| T: M Herrington| OR: 75| CD

10/3

4-time course winner. 16/1, couldn't build on previous promise when tenth of 13 in handicap at this course (8f) 7 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 54-0620

(7)

Mercurius Power^t³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: William Carver| T: A M Balding| OR: 75

13/2

Latest win at Sandown in July. However, has finished down the field last 2 starts, last of 10 in handicap at Epsom (7f, good to firm, 9/1) 32 days ago. Drop in grade could help him get back on track.

Form: 512790

(4)

Twilight Secret^b⁷^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Oliver Stammers| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 70| C

4/1

22/1, best effort of the year when winning 14-runner handicap at this course (6f) 7 days ago, suited by way race developed. Carries penalty. Respected back up in trip.

Form: 512541

(2)

Starshiba^p,h³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Ryan Sexton⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 73| D

10/3

Seventeen runs since his sole win in 2021. Back in a hood, returned to form when second of 8 in handicap (9/2) at Epsom (7f, good to firm) 31 days ago. Makes tapeta debut. Shortlisted.

Form: 224772

(1)

Lost My Sock³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Sean Kirrane| T: T D Easterby| OR: 67

12/1

Again below form when sixth of 13 in handicap at Redcar (6f, good to firm, 16/1) 34 days ago. Capable of getting involved off current mark, but others look stronger for win purposes.

Form: 528386

(3)

Finery^h⁸^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Erika Parkinson⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 61

4/1

9/4, as good as ever returned to the all-weather when winning 7-runner handicap at Chelmsford City (1m) 8 days ago, readily. Can follow up under a penalty.

Form: 422671

(6)

Virgo^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Mikkel Mortensen⁽⁷⁾| T: C Fellowes| OR: 60

14/1

Shaped as if still in form when ninth of 10 in handicap at Redcar (8f, good, 16/1) 17 days ago, meeting trouble from 3f out. More needed to get off the mark though.

Form: 82-7939

Forecasts

Anif (10/3), Starshiba (10/3), Finery (4/1), Twilight Secret (4/1), Mercurius Power (13/2), Lost My Sock (12/1), Virgo (14/1)

FINERY showed the benefit of a recent run returned to all-weather when justifying support at Chelmsford 8 days ago, readily making all. She is taken to get the better of Twilight Secret, who also carries a penalty following his course success last week. Starshiba completes the shortlist.