14:15 Newcastle

Saturday 18 March 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:07

Guinness 0.0 Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:17 | Winning time: 5m 28.29s

Grange Ranger⁶³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-2| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 112

16/1

Sprang a 28/1 surprise when striking on return at Wetherby in November but has rather predictably failed to back that up in 2 subsequent starts. Others preferred.

Form: 6PF-157

Here We Have It^t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Lewis Dobb⁽⁷⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 110| BF

10/1

Overcome poor position to win 7-runner handicap chase under this claimer at Southwell (2m) in December. Ran no sort of a race over the same C&D next time, though, and couldn't be sure that this step back up in trip is what he wants.

Form: 15P-31P

Gold Emery⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 109

5/2

Point winner who made perfect start under Rules when off the mark in 17f Carlisle maiden hurdle last winter. Solid third on return at Ayr in December and, likely to be all the better for the experience of his subsequent chase debut at Uttoxeter, he's one to consider.

Form: 8P11-35

Fakir^t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: M F Harris| OR: 109| D

6/1

Back on track when landing a 3-runner handicap chase at Fontwell (21.5f) on debut for this yard in September. Has found life tougher since but dangerous to discount having been given a real chance by the assessor.

Form: 653P53

Crixus's Escape^p,t⁶²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny McMenamin| T: G Boanas| OR: 108| DWS

14/1

Runner-up twice off significantly higher marks last term, including at this course, but he's hard to warm to based on what he's shown in 3 starts so far this season. Has undergone another wind op since latest appearance in January.

Form: 2P2-7PP

Road Warrior^p,t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 104| CD

9/1

Consistent last term and while he's failed to shine in 5 starts since returning to action in October, it would be unwise to fully discount this 9-y-o, who is now 6 lb lower in the weights compared to when landing this race in 2021.

Form: 2-764P4

Onesoc¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 98

5/2

Hurdles winner at Southwell last summer and opened chase account at the fourth time of asking there (15.8f) recently. 4 lb rise fair enough and interesting back up in trip (good second on sole previous try over 2½m in a handicap hurdle last year) for yard that saddled the winner of this in 2020.

Form: 185331

Relkadam^p,t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 82

7/1

More miss than hit since latest success at Catterick in January 2022 but, on the upside, he wasn't beaten far off this reduced mark at Wetherby (21.3f) 12 days ago. Each-way chance.

Form: 563544

Forecasts

Gold Emery (5/2), Onesoc (5/2), Fakir (6/1), Relkadam (7/1), Road Warrior (9/1), Here We Have It (10/1), Crixus's Escape (14/1), Grange Ranger (16/1)

ONESOC put in a good round of jumping when gaining his first success over fences at Southwell 12 days ago and, with the prospect of better to come from him now moving back up in trip, he is taken to strike again. Fakir and the 2021 winner of this, Road Warrior, have both slipped to dangerous marks but if, as expected, Gold Emery steps up on his chase debut at Uttoxeter he could provide the main threat.