17:00 Newcastle

Thursday 28 December 2023

All15:3016:0016:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:00

BetMGM: It's Showtime Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:02 | Winning time: 1m 40.86s

(4)

Coco Loco^t¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: A Mullen| T: R Menzies

100/1

Has been pulled up on both starts over hurdles 10 months apart and can only be watched making his Flat debut with a tongue tie retained.

Form:

(9)

Knight Of Magic²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: C Grant

250/1

Well beaten in a bumper last month and fared no better switched to this sphere over C&D just under 3 weeks ago.

Form: 7

(7)

August¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 74| BF

11/8

Well-backed 11/8, first run since leaving John & Thady Gosden (28,000 gns) when second of 11 in handicap at Southwell (8.1f) 13 days ago, running on. Shouldn't be long in winning races for new connections.

Form: 7-7432

(2)

Bystander²⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| BF

1/1

Very green and quite possibly failed to handle conditions when last of 6 in minor event (10/11) at Redcar (10f, heavy) on debut 8 months ago. First run for yard after leaving Simon & Ed Crisford (has been gelded) and he's clearly thought capable of better.

Form: 6

(3)

Nights Over Egypt¹³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Harry Davies| T: R Menzies| OR: 72

25/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time (also gelded), last of 8 in handicap at Redcar (8f, good to firm, 20/1) when last seen in August. First run for yard after leaving James Horton (1,500 gns) and while he has plenty to prove, he's been picked up by shrewd connections.

Form: 453-798

(5)

Wath Court^h1²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Faye McManoman| T: B Rothwell| OR: 72

28/1

10/1, took another backwards step when fourth of 9 in minor event at this C&D 20 days ago. Hood on 1st time.

Form: 254

(8)

Very Classy³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Harry Russell| T: G R Oldroyd

50/1

Improved from debut but still in need of the experience when fifth of 8 in minor event at Southwell (7.1f, 200/1) 34 days ago, slowly away.

Form: 75

(1)

Yasmina³⁹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: P J McDonald| T: G Boughey

5/1

Ran to a similar level as on debut when second of 14 in minor event at Kempton (8f, 10/1) when last seen 13 months ago. First run for yard after leaving Freddie & Martyn Meade (26,000 gns) and remains with potential having joined a top yard.

Form: 42-

Non-Runners

(6)

Tonal¹⁸⁸

Weight: 9-6| Age: 3

T: Ian Williams J: K T O'Neill

Forecasts

Bystander (1/1), August (11/8), Yasmina (5/1), Nights Over Egypt (25/1), Wath Court (28/1), Very Classy (50/1), Tonal (50/1), Coco Loco (100/1), Knight Of Magic (250/1)

Only a handful of these are of any real interest and it's AUGUST who gets the nod to get off the mark having shown plenty on first start for these connections at Southwell just less than a fortnight ago. Yasmina has a lengthy absence to overcome, but she remains with potential having switched to George Boughey, while Bystander, who was a disappointing favourite at Redcar in the spring, is another to look out for returning for a different handler.