16:25 Newcastle

Saturday 1 July 2023

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:25

Racing Welfare Handicap

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 2m 42.27s

(6)

Lexington Knight^t¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: N Callan| T: R Hannon| OR: 75| D

10/3

Latest win at Doncaster in June. Very good second of 7 in handicap at Thirsk (12f, soft, 5/1) 11 days ago. Weighted to go well again nudged up just 1 lb.

Form: 253212

(5)

Very Excellent³³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Cam Hardie| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 74

66/1

Last of 8 in handicap at Redcar (10f, good, 28/1) 33 days ago. Back up in trip. Makes tapeta debut with more to do.

Form: 4/310-38

(12)

Victory^p1¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Rossa Ryan| T: A King| OR: 73

9/2

12/1, ninth of 12 in handicap at Southwell (12.1f) 18 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Merits consideration if shrugging off latest effort.

Form: 1/2527-9

(2)

Vallamorey⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: T Eaves| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 72

18/1

Lightly-raced winner on Flat. Winner at Doncaster in April. Fifteenth of 18 in handicap at York (11.8f, good to firm, 14/1) 45 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 663-10

(4)

Ri Na Farraige⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 70| C

15/2

Course winner. Winner here in February. 14/1, eleventh of 12 in handicap at Pontefract (10f, good to soft) 59 days ago. Up in trip so can't be discounted.

Form: 3-73160

(7)

King Of Unicorns³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Garritty| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 68

6/1

Only fifth of 8 in handicap (13/2) at Pontefract (12f, good) 36 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 33453-5

(9)

Glasses Up¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mathers| T: R M Smith| OR: 67

10/1

Twenty four runs since last win in 2021 and below-par fifth of 8 in handicap at Pontefract (12f, good to firm) 19 days ago. Others appeal more.

Form: 7-74525

(1)

The Dancing Poet²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Oisin Murphy| T: B Ellison| OR: 64| D

9/2

Creditable second of 8 in handicap (6/1) at Doncaster (14.5f, good to firm) 28 days ago. One for the shortlist.

Form: 543-782

(3)

Golden Vintage¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Callum Shepherd| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 61| CD

16/1

C&D winner. Winner here in January. 25/1, creditable fifth of 9 in handicap at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 12 days ago. Can give a good account.

Form: 8-18295

(11)

Billy Bathgate¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: A Mullen| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 60

8/1

Finally got off the mark in 7-runner handicap at Ayr (13.1f, firm, 7/2) 18 days ago. Well in the mix despite a 3 lb rise.

Form: 264441

(10)

Explorers Way^t1⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Shane Gray| T: B Ellison| OR: 60

18/1

Eighth of 10 in handicap at Haydock (10.2f, good to firm, 18/1) 7 days ago. Back up in trip. Tongue strap on for 1st time with work to do.

Form: 6-44088

Non-Runners

(8)

Easter Island⁵³

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: Miss J A Camacho J: G Lee

Forecasts

Lexington Knight (10/3), Victory (9/2), The Dancing Poet (9/2), King Of Unicorns (6/1), Ri Na Farraige (15/2), Billy Bathgate (8/1), Glasses Up (10/1), Easter Island (14/1), Golden Vintage (16/1), Vallamorey (18/1), Explorers Way (18/1), Very Excellent (66/1)

LEXINGTON KNIGHT remains on a workable mark raised only 1 lb for his very good Thirsk second so is fancied to quickly resume winning ways at the chief expense of Billy Bathgate who could now build on his breakthrough Ayr success. In-form pair Golden Vintage and The Dancing Poet complete the shortlist.