19:20 Newcastle

Friday 31 March 2023

All17:2017:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:20

Spreadex Sports First Goalscorer Insurance Handicap

Off time: 19:22 | Winning time: 1m 26.96s

(4)

Elladora¹⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Phil Dennis| T: K Scott| OR: 55| D

18/1

Front runner who was successful at Ayr in October and ran well back on the all-weather when third in 13-runner handicap over C&D in November. Off since but still enters calculations.

Form: 521823-

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(6)

St Andrew's Castle^p⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 55| BF| CD

15/8

Capitalised on a tumbling mark over C&D earlier in the month and ran at least as well in defeat back here last week. Shortlisted.

Form: 409812

(11)

Merry Secret¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Sean Kirrane⁽³⁾| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 53| C| D

4/1

Returned to form after 4 months off to take advantage of a reduced mark in 7-runner handicap at this course (6f) 17 days ago, leading approaching final 1f and keeping on. Nudged up only 1 lb but he's no banker to be in the same form.

Form: 90687-1

(8)

Gerrots²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: D C Costello| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 53

66/1

Offered little on first run since leaving James Evans when last of 8 in handicap at this course (10.2f) 22 days ago. Significantly down in trip.

Form: 9558-08

(7)

Willing To Please⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: P A Kirby| OR: 53| D

33/1

8/1, not seen to best effect when ninth of 11 in handicap at Southwell (7.1f) 70 days ago, racing on unfavoured far side. Not dismissed back from a break.

Form: 3007-39

(13)

Hardy²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Ben Sanderson⁽³⁾| T: Jessica Macey| OR: 53| BF| CD

8/1

C&D winner in January and not ideally placed when 5¼ lengths fourth of 11 to St Andrew's Castle on most recent outing. Considered.

Form: 1408-14

(5)

Rivas Rob Roy^b¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Kaiya Fraser⁽⁷⁾| T: J Gallagher| OR: 51| CD

18/1

C&D winner. Latest win at Lingfield in March but wasn't in the same form at Wolverhampton (8.6f, 20/1) 14 days ago. Bounce back needed.

Form: 244-618

(2)

Lucky Lucky Lucky⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Rowan Scott| T: N Tinkler| OR: 50| CD

15/2

Finally off the mark over C&D in February and wasn't disgraced in 8-runner handicap back here last week.

Form: 545165

(12)

Perfect Soldier¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: Ryan Sexton⁽³⁾| T: W Storey| OR: 48| C| D

25/1

Course winner who ran better than for a while when fourth of 11 in minor event here (8f) 16 days ago, though did have the run of things.

Form: 69-8804

(3)

Eyes³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: Jessica Macey| OR: 48| CD

14/1

C&D winner who again finished well held at Southwell (7.1f) 31 days ago. Has plenty to prove at present.

Form: 5488-90

(9)

Van Zant¹⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 46

12/1

Tenth of 12 in handicap (40/1) at this course (10.2f). Off 158 days. Significantly back down in trip. Others make more appeal.

Form: 946760-

(1)

Spirit Of Bowland¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Callum Shepherd| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 45

14/1

Ran creditably after 5 months off when fourth of 10 in minor event at Southwell (7.1f, 16/1) 15 days ago.

Form: 96840-4

(14)

Nazca²¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Harrison Shaw| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 45

150/1

Little form in varied events and easily passed over from out of the weights back from 7 months off.

Form: 080789-

Non-Runners

(10)

Atrafan⁵⁰

Weight: 9-7| Age: 9

T: A D Brown J: Non Runner

Forecasts

St Andrew's Castle (15/8), Merry Secret (4/1), Lucky Lucky Lucky (15/2), Hardy (8/1), Atrafan (10/1), Van Zant (12/1), Spirit Of Bowland (14/1), Eyes (14/1), Elladora (18/1), Rivas Rob Roy (18/1), Perfect Soldier (25/1), Willing To Please (33/1), Gerrots (66/1), Nazca (150/1)

ST ANDREW'S CASTLE has presumably been helped by the reapplication of cheekpieces and can strike again while the iron is hot. Hardy and Elladora head the opposition.