13:38 Newcastle

Tuesday 18 October 2022

All13:3814:0814:3815:0815:3816:1316:4517:20

Top Odds Every Day With BetUK Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 13:38 | Winning time: 2m 40.06s

(8)

Bamboo Bay^p,t²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: Joe Williamson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 64| D

50/1

Latest win at Chester in June. 66/1, eleventh of 12 in handicap at Chester (14.4f, good to soft) 24 days ago. Beaten a long way over C&D on penultimate start and it could be that he's simply not effective on the AW.

Form: 179300

(5)

Major Snugfit^t,v²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Mark Winn| T: R Menzies| OR: 62| CD

13/2

C&D winner. 9/4, running well unseated rider in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (16.8f, good to soft) 21 days ago. Good fourth over this C&D on latest Flat start last month and, now 1 lb lower, he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 25-8954

(9)

Forlio^p1²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: William Pyle⁽³⁾| T: E Bethell| OR: 65

40/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 9/1, fifth of 6 in handicap at this C&D 20 days ago. Hopes pinned on the first-time cheekpieces sparking some improvement.

Form: 8645

(3)

Firebolt³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Joe Bradnam⁽⁵⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 65

10/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Sixth of 11 in minor event at Kempton (12f, 28/1) 32 days ago. Needs to take a step forward now pitched into a handicap but that's by no means impossible.

Form: 326

(6)

Daaris²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Alec Voikhansky⁽⁵⁾| T: K Frost| OR: 62

2/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 12/1, very good second of 13 in handicap at this C&D 28 days ago, suited by increase in trip. 2 lb nudge fair and a reproduction of that would put him firmly in the picture.

Form: 87052

(7)

Crystal Caves^p1,t²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Mr Taylor Fisher| T: W J Haggas| OR: 62

9/4

Lightly-raced maiden. 13/2, fourth of 7 in handicap at this C&D 25 days ago, missing break. Cheekpieces on 1st time and, in good hands to progress, she's very much of interest having been eased 3 lb.

Form: 75654

(4)

Purple Ice^p²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Owen Lewis| T: M Dods| OR: 62

17/2

3/1, creditable third of 6 in handicap at this C&D 20 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Live each-way chance if he gets more of a pace to aim at this time.

Form: 758733

(2)

Lochnaver^h²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Shannon Watts⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 54| D

8/1

Latest win at Hamilton in September. Creditable fourth of 11 in handicap at Hamilton (12.1f, good, 6/1) 22 days ago. Should give another decent account of herself.

Form: 166314

(1)

Bateau Bay¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Madi Patzelt⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 57

150/1

Lightly-raced maiden. First run since leaving Ralph Beckett when seventh of 8 in handicap (66/1) at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 19 days ago. Readily passed over.

Form: 8-657

Forecasts

Daaris (2/1), Crystal Caves (9/4), Major Snugfit (13/2), Lochnaver (8/1), Purple Ice (17/2), Firebolt (10/1), Forlio (40/1), Bamboo Bay (50/1), Bateau Bay (150/1)

Preference is for MAJOR SNUGFIT, who has been in good form over hurdles this year and he performed with credit when fourth over C&D back in this sphere last month. He was a couple of places adrift of the runner-up, Daaris, that day but now meets that rival on 3 lb better terms. Daaris is respected nonetheless and cases can also be made for both Purple Ice and Lochnaver, but Crystal Caves could emerge as the main danger if the first-time cheekpieces have the desired effect.