19:00 Newcastle

Thursday 28 December 2023

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

BetUK. It's Where The UK Bets Handicap

Off time: 19:04 | Winning time: 1m 13.11s

(7)

Grant Wood¹⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: D Nolan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 69

28/1

Eighth of 10 in handicap (40/1) at Doncaster (7f, good to firm). Off 168 days. Makes tapeta debut. Plenty to prove.

Form: 3524-78

(10)

Phoenix Beach¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 69| BF| CD

13/2

C&D winner. Latest win here in November. Creditable sixth of 12 in handicap (4/1) at Southwell (6.1f) 16 days ago. Place claims from same mark.

Form: 023016

(4)

Hour By Hour³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: C Lee| T: I Jardine| OR: 68| D

18/1

8/1, seventh of 11 in handicap at Southwell (7.1f, all-weather debut) 34 days ago. Mark is slipping but seemingly just going through the motions on recent outings.

Form: 238467

(9)

Secret Road^h¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Phil Dennis| T: T Davidson| OR: 68| BF| CD

7/2

C&D winner. Latest win here in November. 4/1, good second of 12 in handicap at Southwell (6.1f) 16 days ago. Should be in the mix again.

Form: 074012

(12)

Kats Bob^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: I Jardine| OR: 68| CD

20/1

C&D winner. Latest win here in October. Creditable fifth of 12 in handicap at Southwell (6.1f, 13/2) 16 days ago. Should continue in form.

Form: 401425

(11)

The Caltonian^b⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Jonny Peate⁽³⁾| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 67| BF| C

7/4

Course winner. Latest win at Wolverhampton in October. 13/8, creditable second of 9 in handicap there (7.2f) 9 days ago, finishing well after lacking room 1f out. Has good chance on form.

Form: 711232

(5)

Thaki^p,t⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: S H James| T: K Scott| OR: 67| CD

33/1

C&D winner. Ninth of 12 in handicap at Southwell (6.1f, 20/1) 7 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 802589

(8)

Wasdale²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Ryan Sexton⁽³⁾| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 67| CD

40/1

C&D winner. 10/1, looked very rusty when tenth of 12 in handicap at this course (5f) 20 days ago. Back to last winning mark but others make greater appeal.

Form: 128670

(1)

After John⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: I Jardine| OR: 67| CD

11/1

Four-time C&D winner, including when readily landing 10-runner event 56 days ago. Remains well treated on best form and has to be considered.

Form: 449061

(2)

Absolutelyflawless⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Laura Pearson| T: D Loughnane| OR: 66| D

100/1

Pulled hard when eighth of 9 in handicap (25/1) at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 9 days ago. Hard to fancy on recent efforts.

Form: 497708

(3)

Sibyl Charm²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 66

5/1

Encouragement when fourth over C&D in November but could barely have run any worse when last of 12 in handicap at this course (7.1f) 20 days ago. Bounce back called for.

Form: 330640

(6)

Rory^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 65| CD

10/1

C&D winner earlier this month. 3/1, creditable second of 11 in handicap at this course (5f) 12 days ago, staying on well. Never been the most reliable but he's not out of it if continuing in the same vein.

Form: 798412

Forecasts

The Caltonian (7/4), Secret Road (7/2), Sibyl Charm (5/1), Phoenix Beach (13/2), Rory (10/1), After John (11/1), Hour By Hour (18/1), Kats Bob (20/1), Grant Wood (28/1), Thaki (33/1), Wasdale (40/1), Absolutelyflawless (100/1)

THE CALTONIAN has held his form well since landing a pair of handicaps in October and Linda Perratt's gelding looks the one to beat here having shaped best at Wolverhampton last time. After John completed a hat-trick here last season and has to be respected after his ready win here last time, with Kats Bob and Secret Road others to consider.