16:07 Newcastle

Friday 18 April 2025

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:0716:42

BetUK All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 16:09 | Winning time: 2m 10.49s

(8)

Savvy Victory^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: H Crouch| T: S Woods| OR: 107| CD

28/1

C&D winner. Latest win here in December. Below form 7 lengths fourth of 9 to Dancing Gemini in listed race (33/1) at Doncaster (8f, good) 20 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Back up in trip and he should strip fitter with that under his belt.

Form: 76541-4

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(2)

Hooking^p⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-11| J: Aurelien Lemaitre| T: P Decouz| OR: 106| D

18/1

Latest win at Cagnes-Sur-Mer in January. 2½ lengths third of 9 to No Lunch in listed race (27/10) at Cagnes-Sur-Mer (8f) 61 days ago. Back up in trip and he was third in this race a year ago from the same mark.

Form: 4163-13

(4)

Paradias²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: A King| OR: 100| D

28/1

Back-to-back AW winner this winter and a shade better than the result when respectable fifth of 14 in handicap at Kempton (11f) 20 days ago, denied a clear run and not given a hard time.

Form: 5031-15

(9)

Charlotte's Web⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Liam Wright⁽⁵⁾| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 100| CD

10/1

C&D winner. Three wins from 7 runs last year and having also landed the Winter Oaks, she took another step forward when very good second of 12 in handicap at Lingfield (10f, AW, 4/1) 49 days ago, reeled in close home. Enters calculations up 5 lb.

Form: 4111-12

(13)

Old Harrovian^t⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 98| CD

6/4

Hasn't stood much racing but confirmed the promise of his reappearance (behind Glen Buck) when winning 9-runner handicap at this C&D (9/4), easing clear. Off 91 days but yard in cracking form and revised mark could be lenient.

Form: 0073-21

(10)

Glen Buck⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 97| C

4/1

Promising individual. Course winner. Career best when winning 11-runner handicap (10/11) at Southwell (12.1f) 55 days ago, plenty in hand. Lightly-raced 6-y-o who may not have finished improving yet.

Form: 11/3-11

(7)

Penzance³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 97| CD

11/1

C&D winner. Five wins from 19 Flat runs. 3/1, didn't need to improve to win 10-runner handicap at Chelmsford City (10f) 36 days ago, getting first run. Raised 4 lb but he was runner-up in this race a year ago from 1 lb higher so he's certainly not out of this from handicap perspective.

Form: 43V6-41

(15)

Claymore⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 95| D

28/1

Sixteen runs since last win in 2022. 150/1, 12½ lengths sixth of 7 to Royal Champion in Winter Derby at Southwell (11.1f) 55 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 636-936

(1)

Smart Hero^h⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: C Lee| T: J Tate| OR: 94

12/1

Career best when winning 10-runner handicap at Wolverhampton (9.5f, 7/2) 76 days ago, plenty in hand. Needs to settle a shade better to last out over this trip but he's an improving type who isn't to be underestimated.

Form: 1495-11

(12)

Salamanca³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: D Egan| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 94| D

14/1

Didn't need to improve to land the odds in novice company in October. Good 4¼ lengths fourth of 10 to Penzance in handicap (10/1) at Chelmsford City (10f) 36 days ago, not ideally placed. Chance he'll build on that.

Form: 2/251V-4

(11)

Power Of Destiny⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 94| D

9/1

Latest win at Kempton in November. 10/1, good head third of 12 to Charlotte's Web in handicap at Lingfield (10f, AW) 90 days ago, needing stronger gallop. That was an eye-catching effort and well-run race will be in her favour.

Form: 20614-3

(3)

Dark Moon Rising^b⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Shane Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 92

28/1

Latest win at Southwell in November. Creditable 4½ lengths third of 9 to Old Harrovian in handicap (4/1) at this C&D, having to wait for a gap. Likely to give it another good go.

Form: 33012-3

(5)

Andaleep^p,t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 8-11| J: K Shoemark| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 92| D

80/1

Three wins from 18 runs last year. 28/1, twelfth of 14 in handicap at Kempton (11f) 20 days ago, meeting trouble and dropping away. Still retains plenty of enthusiasm aged 9 and he's competitive from this mark.

Form: 52V62-0

(14)

Dream Harder^p⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: K T O'Neill| T: Ian Williams| OR: 87| CD

33/1

C&D winner. Eighteen runs since last win in 2023. Creditable 3¾ lengths third of 11 to Glen Buck in handicap (9/1) at Southwell (12.1f) 55 days ago, running on having been shuffled back. Reliable type.

Form: 662-633

Forecasts

Old Harrovian (6/4), Glen Buck (4/1), Power Of Destiny (9/1), Charlotte's Web (10/1), Penzance (11/1), Smart Hero (12/1), Salamanca (14/1), Hooking (18/1), Paradias (28/1), Dark Moon Rising (28/1), Claymore (28/1), Savvy Victory (28/1), Dream Harder (33/1), Andaleep (80/1)

OLD HARROVIAN and Glen Buck dominated a Southwell handicap in January and with both winning next time, they look to be handicappers on the up. The latter won the first clash but the former represents a yard in scintillating form so he just gets the nod this time. Of the others, Smart Hero, a progressive sort, and Penzance, runner-up in this a year ago, are also of interest.