17:30 Newcastle

Monday 25 March 2024

All16:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Boost Your Acca With BetMGM Handicap

Off time: 17:35 | Winning time: 2m 10.11s

(9)

Asgard's Captain²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Rhys Clutterbuck| T: Dylan Cunha| OR: 79| CD

11/10

Two wins from 6 runs last year. 11/8, career best when winning 12-runner handicap at this C&D 24 days ago. 6 lb rise tolerable and another bold show anticipated.

Form: 1-15211

(6)

Westernesse²⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 79| BF

15/2

Respectable third of 9 in handicap at York (10.2f, good to firm, 9/4), caught further back than ideal. Off 9 months ahead of this tapeta debut but merits respect all the same.

Form: 23/2313-

(8)

Umberto^v²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: D Allan| T: K P De Foy| OR: 78| BF

8/1

Sixth of 8 in handicap at Kempton (8f, 6/5) 26 days ago. Up in trip now switched to tapeta and visor back on. Will be a threat if he puts his best foot forward.

Form: 23453-6

(10)

Paris Lights¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: D Nolan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 77| D

12/1

28/1, good fourth of 10 in handicap at this course (8f) 17 days ago. Back up in trip and he looks vulnerable.

Form: 9200-54

(7)

Soowaih¹⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 75| BF| C

12/1

Lightly-raced winner. Course winner. Eighth of 11 in handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f, 11/4), having hopeless task from position. Off 154 days ahead of this debut for new yard and he's one to consider.

Form: 5518-

(4)

Cusack^p¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Sean Kirrane| T: D Thompson| OR: 75| CD

17/2

Six-time course winner. Three wins from 16 runs last year, the latest here in February. 5/1, creditable third of 9 in handicap at this course (8f) 12 days ago. Back up in trip and he's in with an each-way shout.

Form: 311653

(2)

Rocha Do Leao^v1¹⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Jonny Peate⁽³⁾| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 74

18/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 12/1, seventh of 8 in handicap at Newmarket (8f, good to soft). Off 152 days and back up in trip for this tapeta debut with a first-time visor enlisted. Others have achieved more.

Form: 53057-

(5)

Bearwith²⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Cam Hardie| T: H Bethell| OR: 71| CD

12/1

C&D winner. Three wins from 5 runs last year. Cosy winner of an 8-runner handicap at Beverley (9.9f, good to firm, 9/2) when last seen 6 month ago. 10 lb higher back on the AW and more needed.

Form: 7/11491-

(3)

Can't Stop Now¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: I Jardine| OR: 67| D

20/1

Creditable second of 8 in handicap hurdle at Ayr (16f, good, 14/1) 16 days ago. Fair on the Flat (latest effort in this sphere was creditable, too) and couldn't rule out.

Form: 05122-5

Non-Runners

(1)

Midnight Lion²

Weight: 8-9| Age: 4

T: I Jardine J: Mark Winn

Forecasts

Asgard's Captain (11/10), Westernesse (15/2), Umberto (8/1), Cusack (17/2), Bearwith (12/1), Soowaih (12/1), Paris Lights (12/1), Rocha Do Leao (18/1), Can't Stop Now (20/1), Midnight Lion (25/1)

WESTERNESSE was a very respectable third on his first run over this trip at York last summer and, if ready to roll following a nine-month absence, he could be the answer. The in-form Asgard's Captain is a much-respected main danger, while Umberto has the form to play a leading role and both Cusack and Can't Stop Now make each-way appeal.