16:40 Newcastle

Thursday 9 February 2023

All16:4017:1017:4018:1018:4019:1019:40

BetUK Over 40,000 Live Streamed Races Handicap

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 2m 12.51s

(1)

Master Of Combat³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: T E Whelan| T: K Frost| OR: 77

4/1

Winner at Doncaster (1m) in June and he arrives here on the back of a string of consistent efforts on AW, third of 10 in handicap at Wolverhampton (9.5f) 31 days ago, caught further back than pair that beat him. One to bear in mind.

Form: 55742-3

(6)

Qaasid^v²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: G Lee| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 77

3/1

Latest win at Southwell in December. Seventh of 9 in handicap at Southwell (12.1f, 7/2) 23 days ago, weakening 2f out. Bounce back not ruled out with the visor refitted down in grade.

Form: 56331-7

(9)

Freak Out¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Connor Beasley| T: G Tutty| OR: 75| CD

4/1

Latest win over C&D in October. Fourth of 7 in handicap (10/1) at this C&D 15 days ago, unable to quicken under 2f out. Has eased back down to last winning mark and he's no forlorn hope in an open-looking handicap.

Form: 17553-4

(3)

Athmad³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: P Mulrennan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 74| CD

14/1

C&D winner. Eleven runs since last win in 2022. Eighth of 10 in handicap (25/1) at Wolverhampton (9.5f) 31 days ago.

Form: 49460-8

(8)

Crownthorpe²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Ryan Sexton⁽³⁾| T: A D Brown| OR: 74| C

9/1

First run since leaving Richard Fahey when 13/2, landed 6-runner handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 22 days ago, having run of race. Likely to find things tougher in this line up.

Form: 86195-1

(4)

Mafia Power^b⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Mark Winn⁽⁵⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 72| D

8/1

Latest win at Wolverhampton (9.5f) in January. Respectable sixth of 10 in handicap at Lingfield (10f, AW, 13/2) 6 days ago, holding every chance. Expected to give his running again.

Form: 3-16546

(2)

Muzaffar⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 69

28/1

Fair form in 2 starts as a juvenile but ran no sort of race on return from a lengthy absence when last of 10 in a Southwell novice (1m) 6 weeks ago. Market may prove the best guide now handicapping.

Form: 44/0-

(5)

Lechro¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Connor Murtagh| T: J Candlish| OR: 63

125/1

100/1, last of 6 in handicap at Wolverhampton (9.5f) 13 days ago, slowly away and always behind. Hard to warm to at present.

Form: 0/772-06

(7)

Contrast⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 8-11| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 63| D

5/1

Came good at third attempt following a lengthy absence when scoring at Nottingham (10.2f, heavy) in October. Lesser effort next start but back to form when runner-up to a thriving rival over C&D 6 weeks ago. Claims with a repeat.

Form: 3/90182-

Forecasts

Qaasid (3/1), Freak Out (4/1), Master Of Combat (4/1), Contrast (5/1), Mafia Power (8/1), Crownthorpe (9/1), Athmad (14/1), Muzaffar (28/1), Lechro (125/1)

MASTER OF COMBAT remains relatively low-mileage, particularly on all weather, and he again ran well when third at Wolverhampton 31 days ago, coming from further back than the pair that beat him. He earns the vote to come out on top, with Contrast, who finished runner-up over C&D last time, and Mafia Power heading up the dangers.