17:30 Newcastle

Saturday 18 March 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Enhanced Sun Boost At sunbets.co.uk 'Hands And Heels' Handicap Hurdle (Conditionals and Amateurs)

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 4m 36.7s

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Selected odds by:

Zaru^p¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachel McDonald| T: J Ewart| OR: 100

3/1

Has endured a largely disappointing campaign since returning placed from a two year absence at Kelso in October 2016. However, on a more positive note, his mark has fallen having mixed hurdling with chasing, and he is a three time course winner during his more formative years.

Form: 4PPP47-

Pertuis¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: H Thompson Brown⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 93

33/1

Ten time winner (eight on the Flat), who often reserves his best efforts for Catterick. That said; he finished last over hurdles there last month, but was probably entitled to need what was effectively his first run since July 2016, having unseated this rider at the start a week earlier at Wetherby.

Form: 2707/U7

Frightened Rabbit^b,t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D B Hurst⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 91

9/1

Has shown precious little either on the Flat or over hurdles since switched to this yard from previous trainer Keith Dalgleish. No better for a couple of goes on synthetic surfaces lately and reverts to hurdling with little other than a deservedly plummeting handicap mark to recommend.

Form: 8877P1-

Vodka Red^p³⁷⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: K Yeoman⁽⁵⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 85

8/1

Placed on each of his last two starts, both at this track, coming three months apart, however, he returns today from a twelve month absence so has some questions to answer in terms of fitness. Versatile in terms of trip, but his sole career success was over further (2m4f here in March 2014).

Form: 1/PP823-

Fiddler's Flight^h²³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: J R Norton| OR: 77

9/2

Both hurdles successes have come at Sedgefield, with the latest coming thirteen months ago from a 7lb higher mark. Fairly consistent in terms of placings since, but often beaten a long way in terms of distances, and despite having the assistance of a talented young rider, is far from improving at the age of eleven.

Form: 3P3524-

Hey Bob^t⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Ross Chapman| T: C Grant| OR: 77

9/4

26 race maiden who has on occasions shown some glimmers of ability (often at Sedgefield), but was pulled up at this track in December, and found very little off the bridle at Catterick last time, so could hardly be a confident selection.

Form: 4P33F-2

Politbureau^p,t¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 76

9/2

Three time Flat winner, but a frustrating character whose sole success over hurdles was on heavy ground over this C&D in February 2015. On a good mark based upon that victory, but various pieces of equipment have been tried of late (visor dropped today) without signs of improvement, but this is a much weaker race than last time.

Form: 798775-

Non-Runners

Sky Full Of Stars¹⁰

Weight: 11-8| Age: 7

T: J Ewart J: Non Runner

Catchthemoonlight⁹¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 9

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: Blair Campbell

Forecasts

Catchthemoonlight (2/1), Hey Bob (9/4), Zaru (3/1), Sky Full Of Stars (4/1), Fiddler's Flight (9/2), Politbureau (9/2), Vodka Red (8/1), Frightened Rabbit (9/1), Pertuis (33/1)

With all due respect to connections, this race is an absolutely dire contest, and Newcastle should in truth be delivering much better on a Saturday afternoon. Many of these riders have considerably more experience than others, and in such a poor contest that can often be of far more importance to the actual horses themselves. Therefore, a chance is taken on the mare CATCHTHEMOONLIGHT, despite her being 9lb higher than when winning at Hexham in November 2016. Blair Campbell is a useful rider, and her trainer Lucinda Russell notched a double at Hexham on Thursday.