18:30 Newcastle

Tuesday 17 October 2023

All16:2016:5517:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

BetMGM: It's Showtime Handicap

Off time: 18:33 | Winning time: 1m 40.03s

(8)

Pop Favorite^b¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon| OR: 54| CD

11/2

Four-time C&D winner. 3 wins from 16 runs this year. Improved on recent efforts to win 12-runner handicap (11/2) at this C&D 15 days ago by length from Royal Prospect. 3 lb rise fair and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 631841

(9)

Bold Territories^v²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 53| C| D

8/1

Course winner. Twelve runs since last win in 2022. 8/1, creditable third of 12 in handicap at this C&D 21 days ago. Visor back on and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 562863

(5)

Antagonize²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Andrew Breslin⁽³⁾| T: B Smart| OR: 53| C| D

5/1

Course winner. Eighteen runs since last win in 2021. Respectable fourth of 12 in handicap at this C&D (7/1) 21 days ago. Each-way shout.

Form: 052494

(11)

Ice Shadow^b²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Rowan Scott| T: A D Brown| OR: 53

12/1

Winner at Nottingham in July. Last of 10 in handicap (7/2) at this course (10.2f) 21 days ago. Down in trip and blinkers back on. Will probably find a few too good.

Form: 314580

(7)

Bungley¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 52| D

10/1

28/1, eighth of 12 in handicap at Southwell (8.1f) 19 days ago. Every chance if back to best, but the percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 7-97068

(1)

Royal Prospect^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: G Lee| T: S Corbett| OR: 51| CD

6/1

C&D winner. First run since leaving Lawrence Mullaney when creditable length second of 12 to Pop Favorite in handicap at this C&D (9/1) 15 days ago. Can make his presence felt once again.

Form: 485062

(2)

Hot Scoop^p,t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mulrennan| T: S England| OR: 51

25/1

Latest win at Catterick in August. 9/1, seventh of 9 in handicap at Catterick (7f, heavy) 24 days ago, slowly away. Has work to do.

Form: 031047

(6)

Mr Heinz^b¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Cam Hardie| T: S Whitaker| OR: 50| CD

7/2

Career best when winning 8-runner handicap at this C&D (11/1) 11 days ago. This is tougher up 4 lb, but couldn't rule out all the same.

Form: 323691

(4)

Raffles Rebel^p¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: P A Kirby| OR: 49

40/1

Remains a maiden after 19 Flat runs. 14/1, eleventh of 12 in handicap at this course (7.1f) 11 days ago. Booking of Doyle a plus, but opposable on balance.

Form: 355-220

(10)

Gypsy Whisper^b¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: D Swift| T: S Dixon| OR: 49| D

20/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2022. 11/1, eleventh of 12 in handicap at Southwell (8.1f) 19 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 553740

(3)

Distinction^p⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Hart| T: J Mackie| OR: 49

17/2

One win from 42 Flat runs. Twenty-nine runs since last win in 2021. Below form seventh of 12 in handicap at Doncaster (8f, soft, 10/1) 82 days ago. Looks vulnerable.

Form: 234537

(12)

Sea Girt¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 50

150/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Last of 9 in handicap (33/1) at this course (7.1f) 18 days ago. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: 5849

Forecasts

Mr Heinz (7/2), Antagonize (5/1), Pop Favorite (11/2), Royal Prospect (6/1), Bold Territories (8/1), Distinction (17/2), Bungley (10/1), Ice Shadow (12/1), Gypsy Whisper (20/1), Hot Scoop (25/1), Raffles Rebel (40/1), Sea Girt (150/1)

BOLD TERRITORIES shaped as though his turn is near when third over this C&D 3 weeks ago, coming from much further back than the two that beat him, and he looks the way to go off a 1 lb lower mark. Next on the list is Pop Favorite, who enhanced his good record at this track when getting the better of the re-opposing Royal Prospect recently. The latter is likely to be in the thick of things once again, too, while Mr Heinz, also a C&D winner recently, is another to consider.