14:10 Newcastle

Thursday 13 April 2023

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:40

Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 2m 43.09s

(2)

Fire Eyes¹⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Brandon Wilkie⁽⁷⁾| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 57| D

12/1

7/1, last of 6 in claimer at Leicester (7f, heavy). Off 171 days and significantly up in trip. Probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: 640646-

(11)

International Law^v³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: Harry Russell| T: A Brittain| OR: 55| C| D

9/1

Course winner. Fifth of 8 in handicap (10/1) at this course (10.2f) 35 days ago, slowly away. Back up in trip and not without each-way hope.

Form: 735635

(6)

Amourie¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: R Craggs| OR: 54| D

9/2

Latest win at Southwell in December. Very good second of 14 in handicap (17/2) at Southwell (12.1f) 13 days ago, clear of rest. High on the shortlist.

Form: D17-742

(4)

Selfish Brian²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Alex Jary⁽⁷⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 52

11/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2022. Fifth of 7 in handicap at Southwell (11.1f, 7/1) 28 days ago, needing stiffer test. Possibilities if he puts his best foot forward.

Form: 23-8035

(7)

We Still Believe²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Zak Wheatley⁽³⁾| T: D Bourke| OR: 51| C

11/4

5/2, won 9-runner handicap at this course (10.2f) 20 days ago. Claims if coping with this step back up in trip.

Form: 56-9021

(3)

Lituus^b¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Oliver Stammers| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 51

9/1

16/1, creditable sixth of 14 in handicap at Southwell (12.1f) 13 days ago, slowly away. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 34-7746

(10)

Ideal Dream²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Amie Waugh⁽³⁾| T: J J Davies| OR: 50

50/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 50/1, 8¾ lengths seventh of 9 to We Still Believe in handicap at this course (10.2f) 20 days ago. Up in trip and she clearly has work to do.

Form: 75-57

(5)

Visitant^p⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-1| J: Sean Kirrane| T: D Thompson| OR: 47| CD

4/1

Unreliable sort. C&D winner. Good second of 13 in handicap at Thirsk (12f, soft, 14/1) 9 days ago. Definite chance if again on-song.

Form: 293442

(9)

John The Pirate⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Harry Burns| T: P A Kirby| OR: 46

16/1

33/1, twelfth of 14 in handicap at Southwell (11.1f) 44 days ago, slowly away. Needs to raise his game a notch.

Form: 35-9080

(1)

Buford^t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Ryan Sexton| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 46

16/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2021. Respectable fourth of 13 in handicap at Southwell (16.5f, 18/1) 13 days ago. Back down in trip and place possibilities.

Form: 99-4524

(12)

Milltown Lily^t¹⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Aiden Brookes⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 45

28/1

80/1, ran out in novice hurdle at Catterick (15.7f, soft) 106 days ago. Tongue strap back on returned to this sphere and she looks vulnerable.

Form: 244407-

Non-Runners

(8)

Vissani¹⁹

Weight: 9-11| Age: 5

T: Ian Williams J: Ben Sanderson

Forecasts

We Still Believe (11/4), Visitant (4/1), Amourie (9/2), International Law (9/1), Lituus (9/1), Vissani (10/1), Selfish Brian (11/1), Fire Eyes (12/1), Buford (16/1), John The Pirate (16/1), Milltown Lily (28/1), Ideal Dream (50/1)

The vote goes to AMOURIE, who pulled nicely clear of the rest when losing out to a well-handicapped rival at Southwell recently and she again has the assistance of good-value claimer Mark Winn. We Still Believe has to enter calculations on the back of his narrow success here, for which a 3 lb rise looks fair, and Visitant is also likely to be on the premises judged on his solid recent effort at Thirsk.