17:15 Newcastle

Saturday 25 February 2023

All13:1013:4314:1814:5315:2516:0316:3817:15

Vertem Investing For The Future Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:15 | Winning time: 4m 16.37s

Crack Du Ninian^p³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Theo Gillard| T: J Candlish| OR: 102| D

13/2

Dual hurdle/chase scorer. Has struggled over fences lately but he was third over hurdles off 10 lb higher on his reappearance in October so is dangerously well treated if a return to the smaller obstacles sparks a revival.

Form: 2-3744P

Ten Ten Twenty¹²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-1| J: Lewis Dobb⁽⁵⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 101

18/1

Fair Flat winner for John Joseph Murphy in Ireland. Has been finding his way over hurdles for current yard, progressing again to win a Worcester maiden in August. Respectable fourth in 2m Kelso handicap in October. Claims if ready to roll back from a 4-month break.

Form: P55174

Moonlight Glory²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Tom Midgley| T: M Walford| OR: 97

11/2

Twice a winner over hurdles in Ireland and runner-up for the third time since joining this yard when dropped to claiming company at Leicester last month. Bit more on plate back in a handicap, though.

Form: 2-90472

Couldntgivamonkeys³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: William Shanahan⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 96

100/1

Well held in a brace of bumpers/completed starts in novice hurdles but he ws in the process of showing a bit more when falling at the last at Wetherby last time. Handicap debut.

Form: 06-60F

Edmond Dantes⁴⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 94

10/3

Essentially disappointing over hurdles and absent since unseating at Limerick in November 2021 (final start for Gavin Cromwell). A watching brief is advised.

Form: 0/6000U-

El Jefe^h²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Alan Doyle| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 93| D

8/1

Sedgefield winner last winter but has offered little in his 2 outings this season. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 2567-90

Largy Reach^t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 90

6/1

Still to get his head in front. Some creditable efforts in the autumn but last month's Wetherby run was underwhelming.

Form: 724630

Wilhelm Vonvenster²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁶⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 84| D

25/1

Gained his breakthrough win at Sedgefield in November 2021 but has largely found life tough since, including back hurdling at Musselburgh 3 weeks ago. Mark continues to fall but need to see more.

Form: 84U6-98

Yellow Jacket²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Abbie McCain⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 80

14/1

Poor form when fourth in maiden/novice hurdles last spring and fared no better for a switch to handicap company on his reappearance 24 days ago. May strip fitter for the outing, though, and it's still early in his career.

Form: 744-6

Tonto Foley¹⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Ellis Collier⁽⁸⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 77

7/2

From a good family. Every chance when fell 2 out sole start in Irish points. Well beaten in 3 novice hurdles in the autumn but no surprise were he to prove a diferent proposition now handicapping after a break. One to keep a close eye on in the betting.

Form: F-9P0

Hapy La Vie^p1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Edward Austin| T: J Ewart| OR: 70

33/1

Made frame both starts in Irish points but he's offered very little in 3 hurdle starts this winter. Now goes handicapping off a basement mark with cheekpieces added. Worth a precautionary betting check.

Form: 42-P0P

Forecasts

Edmond Dantes (10/3), Tonto Foley (7/2), Moonlight Glory (11/2), Largy Reach (6/1), Crack Du Ninian (13/2), El Jefe (8/1), Yellow Jacket (14/1), Ten Ten Twenty (18/1), Wilhelm Vonvenster (25/1), Hapy La Vie (33/1), Couldntgivamonkeys (100/1)

If a return to timber sparks CRACK DU NINIAN back to life he could take a bit of stopping as he's running here off a 10 lb lower mark than when placed in a Carlisle Class 3 on his latest hurdle start back in October. A market move for Christian Williams handicap newcomer Tonto Foley would make him a potentially dangerous opponent. Ten Ten Twenty is another to consider.