16:35 Newcastle

Thursday 15 February 2024

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:35

QuinnBet Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:36 | Winning time: 5m 43.67s

Moonlight Spirit^b²²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlotte Jones⁽³⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 109WS

33/1

Smart stayer on Flat in 2019 for Charlie Appleby and made a winning hurdles debut at Carlisle in December 2021. Little promise since and remains opposable despite recent wind-op.

Form: PF9F-P7

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Paddy The Horse⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonathon Bewley| T: G Bewley| OR: 107| D

22/1

Dual winner at Hexham in autumn 2022 but last 3 efforts haven't been particularly encouraging, including when switched back to hurdles last time out. Others preferred.

Form: F43P-46

Juge Et Parti^p⁴⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Danny McMenamin| T: J Ewart| OR: 106| D

28/1

Took advantage of his much-reduced mark when landing 6-runner handicap hurdle (4/1) at Hexham (20.1f, heavy) in December but failed to confirm that form when sixth of 7 in handicap hurdle at this course (23.7f, heavy, 7/1) 40 days ago. Others have greater scope.

Form: 4P-P216

Forged Well⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: P W Wadge⁽³⁾| T: M Todhunter| OR: 106

6/1

Placed on his completed start in Irish points and created a good impression to make a successful Rules debut in a Carlisle novice (19.3f) in December. Seemed unsuited by the drop in trip when third in 17f event here last month and his opening mark looks workable going back up in trip.

Form: 313

North Parade⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: William Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 103| CD

4/1

Jumped with greater fluency than has often been the case when landing a gamble over this C&D in December before following up in a similar contest 9 days later. Mark is 6 lb higher again this time and he'll likely need to be better than ever to complete the hat-trick.

Form: 2U4-011

Yealand⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 103| CD

2/1

Not yet the finished article but he made a successful switch to handicaps in a 9-runner C&D event (heavy, 15/8) 40 days ago. Looks capable of better again (from a useful family) and he should make another bold bid from 7 lb higher mark.

Form: 2-541

Bonne Vitesse³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 100

9/1

Fair dual-purpose performer wasn't disgraced when sixth of 10 in handicap hurdle (15/2) at Catterick (25.3f, soft) 35 days ago but likely needs a couple of her rivals to underperform if she's to make any greater appeal.

Form: 3064-46

Follow Charlie⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Ben Smith⁽¹⁰⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 98| D

11/4

Chased home a next-time-out winner over 2m at Ayr on handicap debut before going one place better in a 14-runner event there (20.4f, heavy) 44 days ago. Shortlisted from 7 lb higher mark with form of that contest already working out well.

Form: 0-09421

Star Vantage¹¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: C O'Farrell| T: G Bewley| OR: 89

40/1

Would have likely made the frame at worst if not for departing at the final flight at Newcastle in April but little encouragement from either effort since, weakening when taking another fall at Carlisle in October.

Form: 305F-6F

Non-Runners

Midnight Shuffle⁸

Weight: 11-9| Age: 9

T: W Coltherd J: Sam Coltherd

Valleyview Tommy⁵⁹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 5

T: A M Thomson J: Ryan Mania

Forecasts

Yealand (2/1), Follow Charlie (11/4), North Parade (4/1), Midnight Shuffle (6/1), Forged Well (6/1), Valleyview Tommy (7/1), Bonne Vitesse (9/1), Paddy The Horse (22/1), Juge Et Parti (28/1), Moonlight Spirit (33/1), Star Vantage (40/1)

YEALAND was value for extra when scoring over C&D last month and he gets the nod to take his record in handicaps to 2-2, though fellow last-time-out winner Follow Charlie should prove a stern rival having relished the return to a longer trip when successful at Ayr last time. Handicap newcomer Forged Well can complete the placings.