11:45 Newcastle

Saturday 11 November 2023

All11:4512:1512:5013:3014:0514:4015:1515:45

Virgin Bet Training Series Final Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 11:46 | Winning time: 1m 27.57s

(9)

Liamarty Dreams⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Brandon Wilkie| T: K R Burke| OR: 86| CD

15/2

Made all at Musselburgh in June and has remained in good form since, third at Haydock (8f, soft) just over 6 weeks ago. Should continue in good heart.

Form: 624053

(10)

Oso Rapido¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Joe Leavy⁽³⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 85| C| D

9/1

Course winner. Latest win at Catterick in October. 14/1, below form sixth of 10 in handicap at Doncaster (7f, heavy) 2 weeks ago.

Form: 526D16

(11)

Troon¹³³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-1| J: Alex Jary| T: N Tinkler| OR: 85| D

10/1

Made a winning debut at Kempton in October 2022 (sole starts at 2 yrs) but was too free and again below his that form when sixth of 9 in minor event (20/1) at Windsor (8.1f, good to firm) in July. Gelded since and makes handicap debut for a new yard.

Form: 1-06

(6)

Gobi Sunset⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Archie Young⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 77| CD

13/2

Caused a surprise on first outing since leaving Charlie Johnston after 13 weeks off when winning 12-runner handicap at this C&D (25/1) 40 days ago, keeping on well. Not an obvious type to follow up, however.

Form: 676301

(4)

Kalganov²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Liam Wright| T: M Dods| OR: 77| BF| D

16/1

Won at Redcar in September and Ayr in October. 7/2, run of good form halted when tenth of 13 in handicap at York (7f, heavy) 29 days ago. First run for yard after leaving David O'Meara (10,000 gns). Not taken lightly.

Form: 532110

(2)

Bicep⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Mia Nicholls| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 76| CD

4/1

C&D winner in October. 7/2, went like the best horse at the weights but was stretched by the longer trip when fifth of 11 in handicap at this course (8f) 8 days ago. Has to be taken seriously back at 7f.

Form: 002015

(1)

Cold Stare^t⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Mikkel Mortensen⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 75| D

25/1

Latest win at Ayr in September. Never on terms when eleventh of 16 in handicap (11/1) at Newmarket (6f, heavy) 7 days ago.

Form: 432150

(12)

Magical Max^t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Elle-May Croot| T: I Furtado| OR: 73| D

28/1

Latest win at Newmarket in June. 33/1, ran poorly back on all-weather when last of 13 in handicap at Kempton (7f) 38 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 681060

(5)

Shandy Star^b,e/s⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Kaiya Fraser| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 73

13/2

Got back on track after a spell in the doldrums when second of 17 in handicap at Newmarket (7f, heavy, 22/1) 7 days ago, sticking to task. Makes all-weather debut.

Form: 7-77742

(7)

Sir Maxi¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Alexander Fielding⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 71| D

17/2

Latest win at Pontefract in October. 12/1, ran poorly when seventh of 10 in handicap at Doncaster (7f, heavy) 2 weeks ago. Can bounce back.

Form: 620417

(8)

Ayr Poet⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: Morgan Cole| T: J S Goldie| OR: 68

7/1

14/1, ran well when third of 11 in handicap at this course (10.2f) 8 days ago. Significantly down in trip. Deserves credit for consistency so should go well again.

Form: 213323

(3)

Honour Your Dreams⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: K S McHugh⁽⁵⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 68

18/1

Bounced back to form when second of 10 in handicap at this course (5f, 10/1) 8 days ago, travelling best. Significantly back up in trip. One to be interested in.

Form: 720852

Forecasts

Bicep (4/1), Gobi Sunset (13/2), Shandy Star (13/2), Ayr Poet (7/1), Liamarty Dreams (15/2), Sir Maxi (17/2), Oso Rapido (9/1), Troon (10/1), Kalganov (16/1), Honour Your Dreams (18/1), Cold Stare (25/1), Magical Max (28/1)

A tricky opener to solve but preference is for BICEP, who travelled like a dream before finding his stamina running dry over 1m here last week so, now dropping back in trip, Grant Tuer's 4-y-o can resume winning ways at the expense of Kalganov, who has his first start for Michael Dods and can shrug off a lesser effort at York last month. Honour Your Dreams and the consistent Ayr Poet can battle out minor honours.