15:40 Newcastle

Thursday 29 June 2017

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2017:55

Betfred Seaton Delaval Handicap

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 1m 38.43s

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(6)

Briardale³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: P Hanagan| T: J D Bethell| OR: 100| C| D

7/2

Given a 10lb rise in the weights following his ready 6L success in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar, but his run style suggests he shouldn't be unduly bothered by this drop in trip. A dual course winner (both over 1m2f) who is in the form of his life and commands respect. Holds a John Smith's Cup entry next month.

Form: 6-56121

(14)

Top Notch Tonto¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: B A Curtis| T: B Ellison| OR: 96| D

11/1

A one time very useful performer who has seemingly lost his way. However, is fully effective over this trip and a reproduction of his Galway second to Creggs Pipes in July 2016 would be good enough to take this race. Dropped to a mark of 96 and no surprise (given his trainer) if he's spot on for just his second ever start on the AW.

Form: 2-00400

(10)

Replenish⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: T P Queally| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 94| CD

5/1

Landed a decent enough C&D handicap in June 2016 from a 10lb lower mark and has remained largely consistent without winning since (regularly placed). Arguably slightly too high in the weights but tough to knock his record on the AW (three from seven).

Form: 1733-36

(9)

One Word More^h²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 93| D

20/1

Dropping in the weights, and close enough to his last winning mark (Thirsk, April 2015). However, he broke a blood vessel when last in action at Nottingham last month and that's obviously a concern. 100% record on synthetics (1/1), but not ran on the AW since April 2013.

Form: 03466-7

(13)

Kentuckyconnection⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Connor Beasley| T: B Smart| OR: 92

16/1

Only raced on the AW once in a thirteen race career which commenced with a success at Redcar (7F) in July 2015. Has generally kept strong company and probably over-exerted, but slowly falling to a more workable mark of 89. One for the future.

Form: 458-505

(2)

Claim The Roses²²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: P Makin| T: E F Vaughan| OR: 91

22/1

Goes well enough on synthetics, but yet to win beyond 7F, and this stiff 1m takes some getting. Furthermore, hasn't raced since November 2016, so others are likely to strip plenty fitter.

Form: 35/2200-

(3)

Qaffaal³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Nathan Evans⁽³⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 91| CD

15/2

Useful performer on the AW (five from 18), and seemingly best suited by this trip. Unbeaten (1 from 1) over C&D, but admittedly is 22lb higher than for that September 2016 success. Likely to be better than on each of his last three outings (1m2f), but whether he's capable of winning from this mark in this company is open to debate.

Form: 921363

(11)

Chestnut Fire²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 90| D

7/1

A four time Dundalk winner (three times over this trip) and kept on well to finish fourth to Takatul on stable debut at Lingfield in April. Outclassed in the Victoria Cup prior to a fair effort over C&D earlier this month (third to El Vip). Should run his race off the same mark.

Form: 441403

(7)

Swift Emperor²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: T D Barron| OR: 90| CD

11/1

No surprise this race has come into the reckoning (albeit a year later than anticipated). Always looked like an progressive sort, but the cards didn't drop his way in 2016. Built upon a solid comeback in February with an impressive success over C&D in March and whilst highly tried since, including in the Spring Mile, is of interest from a 4lb higher mark.

Form: 414387

(8)

Constantino^b¹²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 90

10/1

Has a couple of decent C&D efforts on his CV from the winter months, but is slowly nudging up the weights without winning. Off the track since February and feasibly might well have been 'put away' for this contest, but the suspicion is that a mark of 90 might just prove beyond him.

Form: 4322-22

(1)

Mountain Rescue¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: L Morris| T: C F Wall| OR: 89| D

20/1

In good order on the Polytrack at Kempton in the latter months of 2016, but remains 8lb higher than his September 2016 success (beat Sky Ship 1L). Contested some strong handicaps on turf so far in 2017 and a return to this surface should suit.

Form: 612-077

(12)

Hammer Gun^v⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: F Norton| T: D Shaw| OR: 83| D

12/1

A four time winner on the AW during March (Fibresand and Polytrack), but likely to find this kind of company a fraction too hot to handle. That said; shaped as if a stronger test of stamina would suit when fourth at Chelmsford last week, and he'll certainly get that test over this straight mile.

Form: 114904

Non-Runners

(5)

Examiner¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 6

T: S C Williams J: D Tudhope

(4)

Storm Rock¹

Weight: 8-6| Age: 5

T: H J L Dunlop J: Josephine Gordon

Forecasts

Briardale (7/2), Replenish (5/1), Examiner (6/1), Chestnut Fire (7/1), Qaffaal (15/2), Constantino (10/1), Top Notch Tonto (11/1), Swift Emperor (11/1), Hammer Gun (12/1), Kentuckyconnection (16/1), One Word More (20/1), Mountain Rescue (20/1), Claim The Roses (22/1), Storm Rock (25/1)

An ultra competitive straight mile handicap is the feature event of the afternoon, with Zetland Gold Cup winner and dual 1m2f course winner Briardale heading the weights. He's much respected, but it'll take a massive effort to follow up with a 10lb rise. Top Notch Tonto is heading in the other direction, and could outrun his odds with his trainer turning to the AW in an attempt to reinvigorate this once classy performer. Qaffaal and Constantino are both solid perfomers over this straight mile but possibly a fraction high in the weights, whilst support for Examiner shouldn't go unnoticed with Stuart Williams already landing one valuable handicap here in 2017 with Suzi's Connoisseur. Although SWIFT EMPEROR needs to improve a fraction to take a hand, it's feasible that we've not yet quite seen the best of this unexposed sort, and with proven C&D form on the table, he's a speculative play at decent odds.