14:30 Newcastle

Wednesday 22 March 2017

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

Betway Handicap

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 2m 42.96s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Final⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 87

9/4

A four time winner from sixteen career starts who appears to be right at the top of his game since upped to 1m2f. A winner from a 4lb lower mark at Lingfield last month (beat the reliable Qaffaal), he finished 2L second to Ickymasho at Chelmsford next time from this mark. Related to horses with stamina, he steps up another 2F in trip today.

Form: 192U25

(8)

L'Inganno Felice^h²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: P J McDonald| T: I Jardine| OR: 87

13/2

Pulled hard and not seen at his best when well beaten by Codeshare over C&D three weeks ago. However, had previously been in fine fettle on both Tapeta and Fibresand during January, so enters calculations if able to return to that level of form.

Form: 23-1129

(1)

Codeshare²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: S De Sousa| T: G A Swinbank| OR: 83

6/4

Smooth traveller who perhaps doesn't find as much off the bridle as one might expect, but impossible to knock his progress lately, winning twice over the course of the past five weeks over this C&D. Just held off Lac Leman from a 4lb lower mark earlier this month, and seeks the hat-trick today.

Form: 311342

(6)

Euchen Glen^h1³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: S H James| T: J S Goldie| OR: 83

20/1

Dual turf winner (at up to this trip), but his progress slowed in the latter half of the 2016 turf campaign. Returned from a break, but could only finish last of nine to Hamelin here last month, with the first time hood presumably now added in order to help him settle better.

Form: 106-971

(7)

Be Perfect^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 79

20/1

C&D winner from a 1lb lower mark in June 2016, and did record another success at Catterick in September, but weakened after leading on his recent return to action when finishing tenth of eleven to Codeshare over C&D on his latest start.

Form: 5-04118

(2)

Buthelezi¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: B A Curtis| T: B Ellison| OR: 76

66/1

Badly out of form recently and tailed off on last four outings. Yet to place in five AW starts, and very difficult to consider in the circumstances despite dropping back in trip from 2m.

Form: 78-8899

(9)

Card High^t⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: P Mulrennan| T: W Storey| OR: 73

50/1

Winner of the Catterick 12F series final in September 2016, and competitive back at the North Yorkshire venue on his final two turf starts, but seemingly not so keen on synthetics, and well below that level in three starts over C&D this winter.

Form: 560-764

(4)

Main Fact^h1³³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Barry McHugh| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 70

150/1

Ex French racer (D.Smaga) who was successful at Maisons-Laffitte in a three-year-old heavy ground colts and geldings 11F contest in May 2016, and joined this trainer for 18,000 gns in October. Finished last of eleven on stable debut last month (to Inaam over 1m), and quickly stepped up in trip to 1m4f.

Form: 14589-0

(3)

On Fire^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: P Hanagan| T: J D Bethell| OR: 70

7/2

Only 1½L third to Codeshare (when receiving 3lb) in a 1m2f maiden won by Adalene here in December, and has proved progressive in handicaps since, twice finishing runner up over this trip. He dropped back in trip and into maiden company earlier this month, running out a well backed 4½L winner in first time cheek-pieces, and despite a 7lb rise looks the fascinating runner in this race.

Form: 3-22121

Forecasts

Codeshare (6/4), Final (9/4), On Fire (7/2), L'Inganno Felice (13/2), Be Perfect (20/1), Euchen Glen (20/1), Card High (50/1), Buthelezi (66/1), Main Fact (150/1)

The hat-trick seeking Codeshare is likely to be all the rage following his fine run of recent form, but it's possible to just have a few doubts about him as he often doesn't appear to find as much off the bridle as visually one might expect. He also meets last time out maiden winner ON FIRE on far worse terms compared to their maiden clash here in December 2016, with the James Bethell trained runner now having the assistance of Paul Hanagan in the saddle (with PJ McDonald retained for L'Inganno Felice). He appears to get this trip without any problems, and can be fancied to gain his revenge on his old foe with Final considered most likely to fill the placings.