15:37 Newcastle

Thursday 4 January 2024

All15:3716:1016:4017:1017:4018:1018:4019:1019:40

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Off time: 15:38 | Winning time: 3m 53.51s

(8)

Gift Of Raaj^p¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: Jonny Peate⁽³⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 60| CD

18/1

C&D winner in November. 22/1, not in same form when tenth of 12 in handicap at Southwell (16.5f) 2 weeks ago, rearing leaving stalls. Must bounce back quickly.

Form: 348710

(1)

Cold Henry^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Ryan Sexton⁽³⁾| T: Sara Ender| OR: 59| D

13/2

4/1, ran creditably after 7 weeks off when third of 12 in handicap at Southwell (16.5f) 2 weeks ago. Cheekpieces go on for just a second time in his career and he's not taken lightly.

Form: 365443-

(9)

Spirit Of Ash^h²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Hart| T: T Davidson| OR: 59| C

4/1

Four wins (all at this track) from 18 runs last year. 9/1, ran another sound race when second of 12 in handicap at this course (12.4f) 27 days ago, very slowly away. Significantly back up in trip. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 251612-

(2)

Ghadbbaan^b1,t⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Cam Hardie| T: S England| OR: 57| D

25/1

5/1, below form when seventh of 8 in handicap at this C&D 50 days ago. First run for yard after leaving Mark Walford. First-time blinkers replace the usual cheekpieces.

Form: 273577-

(5)

Liberated Lad^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: D C Costello| T: B Brookhouse| OR: 54

5/1

Three wins from 18 runs last year. Not disgraced when fourth of 13 in handicap at Chelmsford City (10f, 9/1) 24 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Given a chance by the handicapper.

Form: 7V3974-

(6)

Heatherdown Hero^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: P Mulrennan| T: R Menzies| OR: 54| BF

7/2

One win from 26 Flat runs. 9/4 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, confirmed return to form when third of 12 in handicap at Southwell (14.1f) 4 weeks ago, keeping on when denied a run well inside final 1f. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 549633-

(7)

Typewritten^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Phil Dennis| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 53

50/1

Unreliable type. Eleven runs since last win in 2022. Respectable sixth of 12 in handicap at Southwell (16.5f, 80/1) 2 weeks ago. Easy to look elsewhere on recent evidence.

Form: 358006-

(10)

Show No Fear^p⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: R Menzies| OR: 53

7/1

Possibly unsuited by conditions when pulled up in handicap hurdle (3/1) at Hexham (16.2f, heavy) just over 6 weeks ago. Modest on the Flat, creditable on last run when second over C&D in November.

Form: 342652-

(11)

Strong Team^p⁵⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 8-9| J: J P Sullivan| T: C Grant| OR: 46| D

50/1

Remains a maiden after 17 Flat runs. Ran one of better races when fourth of 8 in handicap (100/1) at this C&D 50 days ago. Seems unlikely to build on that given his profile.

Form: 657854-

(4)

Crystal Guard^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: C Lee| T: I Jardine| OR: 46| C

7/1

Course winner. Returned to form when third of 9 in handicap at Wolverhampton (16.6f, 4/1) 19 days ago. Not discounted from a career-low mark.

Form: 547893-

(3)

Zephlyn¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: A Mullen| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 45

17/2

Creditable sixth of 12 in handicap at Wolverhampton (12.2f, 12/1) 17 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Others preferred for win purposes.

Form: 780366-

(12)

Lady Hamilton⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Paula Muir⁽³⁾| T: W Storey| OR: 45

40/1

40/1, shaped as if better for the run after 6 months off when sixth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (16.8f, good to soft) back in October. Significantly up in trip. Poor on last Flat run 12 months ago.

Form: 97080/0-

Forecasts

Heatherdown Hero (7/2), Spirit Of Ash (4/1), Liberated Lad (5/1), Cold Henry (13/2), Show No Fear (7/1), Crystal Guard (7/1), Zephlyn (17/2), Gift Of Raaj (18/1), Ghadbbaan (25/1), Lady Hamilton (40/1), Typewritten (50/1), Strong Team (50/1)

A competitive opener in which the vote goes to SPIRIT OF ASH, who found only one too good in a slowly-run affair over 12.4f last month and reunited with Jason Hart, she can gain course victory number 5. Cold Henry is a reliable type so he could give the selection most to think about, with Heatherdown Hero and stable-switcher Ghadbbaan taken to fight out minor honours.