15:25 Newcastle

Thursday 13 February 2025

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:30

Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 5m 20.5s

Our Sam^t⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Leah Noreci⁽¹⁰⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 112

25/1

His plummeting handicap mark means he sneaks into a 0-100 handicap since August 2023 and although hard to fancy based on recent evidence (pulled up at Haydock 54 days ago), this is the lowest grade he's contested for a while and any market support would be worth noting.

Form: 6-504FP

Letthedustsettle²⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: Paul Collins| OR: 110

20/1

Dual hurdles winner for Tom Lacey although seemed to be in the grip of the handicapper when last seen finishing sixth of 10 (20.4f, good) in April 2024. Begins life for new yard from 2 lb lower in the handicap but still has work to do from that mark.

Form: 1123P6-

Punxsutawney Phil^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 107

10/1

Doubled his hurdles tally by making all (having got first run) in a 0-105 handicap at Musselburgh (24f) in December. Struggled on two occasions since, no excuses when finishing tenth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Doncaster (24.4f, good to soft) last month. May need some more help from the handicapper.

Form: 7-42160

My Friend Yeats^v,t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 106

9/2

Form has been much improved since the addition of headgear, including when respectable fourth of 12 in a handicap hurdle (Catterick, 19.3f, good) last month, did well in the circumstances having been hampered at a crucial stage. Visor retained today and entitled to be in the mix once again.

Form: 255724

Kilmore Rock¹¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 105| D

14/1

Placed on 2 of 4 starts in points and backed at prices, he made a winning hurdles debut in a moderate contest at Hexham in June. Unseated on reappearance at the beginning of October before lacklustre display later that month. Others have stronger claims.

Form: P32-1U8

Galahad Threepwood²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 105

16/1

With fitness on his side from the Flat, shaped well on hurdles debut for this yard when third at this venue 4 weeks ago, only beaten by an unexposed pair. Races off the same mark today and has to enter calculations.

Form: F0/767-3

Authorized Mission¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 103| C

9/2

Well-backed when disappointing over an inadequate test here on penultimate start. Made amends when winning at this venue (22f) last month, travelling well in a slowly-run affair. On that evidence he shouldn't be inconvenienced back at 2½m and lightly-raced sort arrives here with leading claims.

Form: 6-69271

Aire Spray²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 101| D

9/4

Made a winning handicap debut upped to 19.3f in December and landed the double winning 16-runner handicap hurdle at Wetherby (19.7f, heavy). Ground won't be as testing on this occasion, but extra furlong should help bring his stamina into play. Remains open to improvement as he bids for a hat-trick.

Form: 2F3-811

Aquitaine Boy²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 99| CD

8/1

Just held on to land a 10-runner handicap at Newcastle (20.3f) last month and not disgraced under a penalty the following week. C&D winner is relatively low-mileage for his age and remains of interest at this level.

Form: 0F/1618

Tees Comp's Clive¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 94

14/1

Always shaped like a handicap prospect and left disappointing debut effort in this sphere behind when creditable fourth to Authorized Mission at this venue 16 days ago. On better terms with that horse today and holds an each-way chance in a competitive race.

Form: 7-076P4

Non-Runners

Lune De La Mer¹⁹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 8

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Henry Brooke

Forecasts

Aire Spray (9/4), Authorized Mission (9/2), My Friend Yeats (9/2), Aquitaine Boy (8/1), Punxsutawney Phil (10/1), Kilmore Rock (14/1), Tees Comp's Clive (14/1), Lune De La Mer (14/1), Galahad Threepwood (16/1), Letthedustsettle (20/1), Our Sam (25/1)

The lightly-raced AUTHORIZED MISSION has progressed with experience and looked a different model when scoring over a longer trip at this course last month. He's taken to follow up that victory at the expense of hat-trick seeking Aire Spray, who will find the extra furlong in his favour, and Galahad Threepwood, who was only bettered by a couple of unexposed horses last time out.