15:55 Newcastle

Thursday 16 February 2023

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:30

Will Pugh 21st Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:57 | Winning time: 6m 3.54s

1^st

Court At Slip

611-7

15/8

T: T D EasterbyJ: Mr William Easterby (5)

Prominent, led 5th, headed and chased leader 7th, led again before 15th where pressed for lead, 1 length ahead 3 out, soon pushed along, 2 lengths ahead 2 out, 5 lengths ahead approaching last, stayed on well run-in op 5/2 tchd 15/8

2^nd

Return Fire

711-11

7/4f

T: Miss Lucinda V RussellJ: P W Wadge (7)

Midfield in touch, headway and pressed for lead 15th, ridden before 3 out where 1 length down, 2 lengths down 2 out, 5 lengths down approaching last, weakened run-in op 11/8

3^rd

Flying Verse

1111-11

11/2

T: David DennisJ: B S Hughes

Led, headed 5th, regained lead 7th, headed before 15th, soon pushed along, outpaced by leaders 4 out, kept on same pace approaching last op 5/1 tchd 9/2 and tchd 13/2

4^th

1 ¾

Dragonfruit

811-11

4/1

T: O Greenall & J GuerrieroJ: Henry Brooke

Midfield in touch, mistake 10th, driven in last before 15th, weakened before 2 out op 7/2

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Non-Runners

Follow Your Arrow¹³

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: G Bewley J: Jonathon Bewley

Twoshotsoftequila¹⁸

Weight: 12-2| Age: 6

T: R Menzies J: Nathan Moscrop

Hitman Fred²²

Weight: 12-1| Age: 10

T: R Dobbin J: Craig Nichol

Loughermore²¹

Weight: 10-8| Age: 9

T: S Waugh J: William Shanahan

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£2.88EX:£5.10Trifecta:£11.50SF:£5.51Swingers:£2.60

Forecasts

Return Fire (7/4), Court At Slip (15/8), Twoshotsoftequila (2/1), Dragonfruit (4/1), Hitman Fred (5/1), Flying Verse (11/2), Loughermore (10/1), Follow Your Arrow (12/1)

Had he not lost momentum at the final fence at Sedgefield, TWOSHOTSOFTEQUILA probably would have won and, with further progress likely, compensation awaits here. Next on the list is Loughermore, who shaped pretty encouragingly over hurdles last time and he resumes in this sphere on an attractive mark. Hitman Fred's latest effort needs forgiving but if he puts his best foot forward he will be in with a fighting chance.