17:50 Newcastle

Wednesday 15 March 2017

All17:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:2020:50

Bet On The Festival With Betway Handicap

Off time: 17:50 | Winning time: 3m 45.16s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Next Edition^p²²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-13| J: Phil Dennis⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 61

25/1

Gelding who has not run on the Flat since October 2016, but has been kept busy over hurdles this winter, with his best effort in that sphere coming in November when runner up to Vivas at Market Rasen. Successful on Tapeta at Wolverhampton in March 2016 (2m), and a 6L runner up to Wor Lass over this C&D in August 2016.

Form: 24267-7

(10)

Up Ten Down Two^t¹⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 58

5/4

Returned from a whopping three plus year absence when fourth over 1m4f here in October 2016 behind Lugano, and the then in-form Ajman Prince and Kirtling. Absent since, and steps back up in trip to 2m (boasts solid form at York over this trip in 2012). In the hands of a shrewd trainer and with high profile owners is a horse to be considered.

Form: 866/4-11

(3)

Mr Globetrotter⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: C Lee⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 62

7/1

All four starts so far in 2017 have come over hurdles (twice placed), and returns to the AW for just the second time. Possibly needed his sole start on Tapeta at Wolverhampton in December 2016 (first run for eight months), but in truth has yet to really prove he stays 2m.

Form: 48/98-31

(4)

Maple Stirrup^p1³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: T Eaves| T: P Holmes| OR: 57

12/1

Has struggled over hurdles lately and was well out of her depth pot-hunting at the Musselburgh Cheltenham trials meeting last month, but reverts back to the AW in the first time cheek-pieces having finished 1½L second to Shan Dun na nGall over C&D in December (Ryan The Giant third), and is clearly competitive from this kind of mark.

Form: 33272-7

(7)

Psychology¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: D C Costello| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 55

50/1

Dropped 5lb following his handicap debut last of 13 (7F) here earlier this month, having previously shown nothing at large odds in maidens up to 1m4f. A similar story in junior bumpers earlier in his career, and steps up in trip to 2m for the first time with little to be positive about.

Form: 5

(9)

Feeltherhythm^v³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: S H James| T: C Grant| OR: 48

33/1

Runner up to Bell Weir at Ayr in August 2016 (1m7f) when last seen on the Flat. That was her stable debut, and she's been campaigned over hurdles since, seemingly finding life tough since switched to handicapping from a mark of 89. Not a forlorn hope based upon some previous form for both Johnny Murtagh and Des Donovan.

Form: 304/202-

(2)

Adrakhan³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Cam Hardie⁽⁵⁾| T: W Storey| OR: 46

28/1

His sole career success came over hurdles for Dan Skelton at Market Rasen back in October 2015, but a couple of placed Catterick efforts aside for this trainer (October 2016), he's achieved little of any note on the Flat. Comfortably held by Ryan The Giant on their C&D clash in February.

Form: 390-596

(6)

Ryan The Giant^v¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 50

11/4

Finally off the mark at the 25th attempt over C&D on his penultimate start when downing Jan Smuts by 1L (holds Yorkshireman, Strikemaster and Adrakhan), and backed that up with a reasonable placed effort behind Stoneham and previous Newcastle winner Royal Flag earlier this month. Live contender in a weak race.

Form: 272703

(11)

Strikemaster^t³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 8-11| J: Kieran Schofield⁽⁷⁾| T: L R James| OR: 45

125/1

Five time winner (but never on the AW), who probably needed the race last time back from a lengthy break when finishing seventh of nine over C&D to Ryan The Giant. That said; unlikely to turn that form around, and now very much a veteran at the age of eleven.

Form: 20/89-70

(8)

Shulammite Man⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Neil Farley| T: G A Swinbank| OR: 48

14/1

Seven race maiden, who could be excused a moderate run at Southwell in February (Fibresand, and return from a break), but generally has a none too appealing profile. Nevertheless, this 4F step up in trip could be helpful with his trainer improving the likes of Go George Go from a similarly low base this winter.

Form: 7556-65

Non-Runners

(5)

Yorkshireman³⁰

Weight: 8-11| Age: 7

T: Miss L C Siddall J: P Aspell

Forecasts

Up Ten Down Two (5/4), Ryan The Giant (11/4), Mr Globetrotter (7/1), Maple Stirrup (12/1), Shulammite Man (14/1), Yorkshireman (14/1), Next Edition (25/1), Adrakhan (28/1), Feeltherhythm (33/1), Psychology (50/1), Strikemaster (125/1)

Ryan The Giant holds quite a few off these runners on the evidence of his February C&D success, and ought to go well at a track which clearly seems to suit, but whilst he's a live contender, he also looks beatable. Maple Stirrup is also competitive at this track, and the first time cheek-pieces should help her assuming her Musselburgh exertions haven't blunted her speed on the Flat. Feeltherhythm boasts some reasonable Flat form for a variety of trainers and isn't a forlorn hope on just her second Flat start for Chris Grant, but the vote goes to the Mick Easterby trained UP TEN DOWN TWO who has been kept in training by his owners despite a lengthy career break, and if able to recapture his best form from 2012 (over this trip) is on a very dangerous looking handicap mark (58).