14:45 Newcastle

Wednesday 22 February 2023

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Top Odds Every Day With BetUK Handicap

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 2m 12.33s

(6)

Smart Lass^p,t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 66

66/1

Respectable fourth of 13 in handicap hurdle (11/2) at Musselburgh (15.6f, good to soft) 18 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Down slightly in class back on the level.

Form: 42/9440-

(2)

Lord Torranaga¹⁰³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: G Lee| T: P A Kirby| OR: 65

9/1

Ninth of 12 in handicap at this course (12.4f, 66/1). Off 103 days. Tough to assess at present.

Form: 552759-

(7)

Ri Na Farraige⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 65| BF| C

2/1

Bumper winner. Lightly-raced maiden on Flat. 7/2, good third of 13 in handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 9 days ago. Step up in trip looks a good move.

Form: 673-73

(9)

Balqaa¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: P Mulrennan| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 64| CD

9/2

C&D winner. Latest win here in September. 14/1, sixth of 9 in handicap at this course (8f) 13 days ago. Back up in trip and should run closer to form this time.

Form: 61420-6

(8)

Mujid²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Mr Taylor Fisher⁽⁵⁾| T: J Tickle| OR: 63

5/1

12/1, creditable fourth of 12 in handicap at Kempton (11f) 28 days ago, running on.

Form: 6607-34

(4)

Vision Of Hope^h,t⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: K Stott| T: G Boughey| OR: 63| BF

17/2

Two wins from 5 runs on the level last year. Hood on for first time over hurdles, fourth of 8 in juvenile hurdle at Hereford (16.2f, good, 14/1) 7 days ago. Rejoined yard after leaving Harry Derham. Worth a look.

Form: 66811-3

(1)

Can't Stop Now⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: C Lee| T: I Jardine| OR: 63| DWS

4/1

Fourth of 6 in handicap hurdle at Catterick (15.7f, heavy, 14/1) 41 days ago, doing too much too soon. Fair on the Flat, back to form when winning at Redcar in October. Big player up 3 lb on the back of a wind op.

Form: 0/90321-

(5)

Caracristi³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Madi Patzelt⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 53

20/1

Latest win at Wolverhampton in December. 25/1, seventh of 10 in handicap at Wolverhampton (9.5f) 37 days ago.

Form: 63321-7

(10)

Le Bayou^b¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: Faye McManoman| T: J L Eyre| OR: 45| D

40/1

One win from 27 Flat runs. Fourteen runs since last win in 2021. Creditable sixth of 12 in handicap (66/1) at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 11 days ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 87050-6

Non-Runners

(3)

Yakhabar⁶

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: L Bailey J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Ri Na Farraige (2/1), Can't Stop Now (4/1), Balqaa (9/2), Mujid (5/1), Vision Of Hope (17/2), Lord Torranaga (9/1), Yakhabar (14/1), Caracristi (20/1), Le Bayou (40/1), Smart Lass (66/1)

CAN'T STOP NOW hasn't been in top form over hurdles of late but this mark should be within range back on the level on his first start since a breathing op. He's just about the most persuasive option, with Ri Na Farraige and Vision of Hope feared most.