14:45 Newcastle

Friday 8 September 2023

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:4018:10

Mott MacDonald Bentley Handicap

Off time: 14:47 | Winning time: 2m 15.76s

(1)

Irish Flame^p³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 72| C

28/1

Course winner. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, sixth of 8 in handicap at Ayr (7.2f, heavy, 28/1) 39 days ago, making no impression. Mark is easing if return to AW sparks a revival.

Form: 51-5586

(12)

Glory Nights²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 72

40/1

Eleventh of 12 in handicap (66/1) at Sandown (8f, good to soft) 29 days ago, always behind. Pick of his efforts to date have come on AW but he comes here with plenty to prove in any case.

Form: 5/42-780

(2)

Sagauteur^t⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: R Menzies| OR: 70| CD

16/1

C&D winner. 7/1, sixth of 8 in handicap at Newbury (12f, good to soft) 43 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Comes here on a good mark and no surprise to see a better showing.

Form: 757-356

(3)

Buckshaw Village⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Zak Wheatley⁽⁵⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 68

33/1

16/1 and visored for 1st time, last of 12 in handicap at Carlisle (5.8f, good) 62 days ago. Significantly up in trip. First run for yard after leaving Richard Fahey.

Form: 3-94670

(11)

Don't Look Back⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Ryan Sexton⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 67| D

20/1

Winner at Doncaster in April. Respectable third of 6 in handicap (14/1) at Pontefract (10f, good to soft) 40 days ago. Ease in class rates a plus and he's no forlorn hope with his rider taking off handy 3 lb.

Form: 152763

(6)

Elshaameq^t⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Ben Robinson| T: K Frost| OR: 66

11/1

Fifth of 7 in handicap at Newbury (10f, good to firm, 33/1) 64 days ago, merely passing beaten rivals. Best efforts to date have come on an artificial surface and better showing anticipated.

Form: 02-0045

(7)

Danielsflyer²³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-12| J: Sean Kirrane| T: D Thompson| OR: 66| C

50/1

Latest win here (1m) in March. 33/1, creditable fifth of 10 in handicap at Beverley (9.9f, good to firm) 23 days ago, not ideally placed but running on. Not out of things operating from last winning mark.

Form: 0-17045

(5)

Fleur De Mer³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Jason Hart| T: H Palmer| OR: 70

15/8

Much improved switched to handicaps, off the mark at Wolverhampton (8.6f) in July prior to a solid second at Chelmsford (10f) 31 days ago, edging left final 100 yds and keeping on. Has to be on the shortlist again.

Form: 8-38V12

(9)

Mercurius Power^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Sanderson⁽³⁾| T: Jessica Macey| OR: 63| C

28/1

Best effort a while when third in a 14-runner handicap here (7f) on penultimate start last month. Never figured back on turf when eighth of 12 in handicap at Newmarket (1m) latest though and he steps back up significantly in trip here.

Form: 060038

(10)

Barrolo²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 68| D

9/4

Different proposition gelded/switched to handicaps this term, taking his record to 4 from 5 with a bit to spare in a 3-y-o handicap at Newmarket (10f) 3 weeks ago. Unexposed at this trip and unlikely we've seen all he's got to offer yet. Player.

Form: 0-11211

(8)

Western Beat^v¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 62| CD

13/2

C&D winner. Creditable second of 9 in handicap (10/3) at Beverley (9.9f, soft) 12 days ago, helped by being held up in strongly run race. Not taken lightly.

Form: 973422

(13)

Queen Of Sparta³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Cieren Fallon| T: G Boughey| OR: 63

17/2

Well-related filly who has offered minor promise on 2 of her 3 starts in maiden/novice events in recent months. Never figured on turf at Lingfield when last seen in July but no surprise to see a better showing now handicapping up in trip. Market confidence behind her would look significant.

Form: 549

Non-Runners

(4)

Cusack⁶²

Weight: 9-6| Age: 5

T: D Thompson J: Phil Dennis

Forecasts

Fleur De Mer (15/8), Barrolo (9/4), Western Beat (13/2), Queen Of Sparta (17/2), Elshaameq (11/1), Sagauteur (16/1), Cusack (16/1), Don't Look Back (20/1), Irish Flame (28/1), Mercurius Power (28/1), Buckshaw Village (33/1), Glory Nights (40/1), Danielsflyer (50/1)

BARROLO took another step forward as he made it 4 wins from 5 starts in handicaps with a bit to spare at Newmarket 3 weeks ago and, still unexposed at this trip, all looks set fair for another big run from Grant Tuer's progressive 3-y-o. Fellow 3-y-o Fleur de Mer is improving herself and feared along with Western Beat. Queen of Sparta is one to note in the betting now handicapping for her shrewd stable.