21:15 Newcastle

Friday 22 September 2017

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:4521:15

DSE Handicap

Off time: 21:17 | Winning time: 59.08s

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(13)

Hadley^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 60| BF

15/2

Deservedly off the mark after a string of consistent efforts when bolting up by 5L at Thirsk last month (6f good). Beaten a whisker by See Vermont from an 8lb higher mark at Musselburgh since (5f) and fully effective here, so reasonable claims.

Form: 232312

(5)

Ambitious Icarus^p,h³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Beasley| T: R C Guest| OR: 60| CD

7/1

Handicapped to win when recording a second C&D success in 2017 in late July. Remained in decent shape since and from just a 3lb higher mark could be thereabouts if getting a good tow into the race (essential).

Form: 021334

(11)

Groundworker^t¹⁰^{(ex 6)}

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁷⁾| T: P T Midgley| OR: 54| CD

11/2

Took advantage of a competitive mark to record a second C&D success last week. His 7lb claimer effectively removes the 6lb penalty, so theoretically should go well. However, he can be a difficult ride, and Paul Mulrennan knows him best.

Form: 765541

(6)

See Vermont^b⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: D Fentiman| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 59| BF| D

25/1

Loves Musselburgh, and edged out both Hadley and Groundworker when winning in a blanket finish there last month (5f good to firm). Beaten since, and possibly vulnerable here, but fairly treated by the assessor for that narrow success.

Form: 319718

(2)

Bond Bombshell^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Patrick Vaughan⁽⁷⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 57| D

25/1

Not won since October 2016 (5f Redcar) and whilst falling to an appealing mark has performed very moderately of late. Not very effective on the AW previously, so plenty of questions to answer.

Form: 734050

(3)

Sunnyside Bob^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁷⁾| T: N Bycroft| OR: 56

33/1

Finished behind a number of today's rivals at Musselburgh last month including the winner See Vermont. Dropped 2lb, but no reason to believe he's capable of breaking his duck at the 18th attempt tonight.

Form: 6070-08

(1)

Windforpower^v⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Barry McHugh| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 53| CD

15/2

Proved himself a solid 5f handicapper at this track on the AW (dual winner), and very much the type to withstand regular racing. No chance on his last visit to this track (7f) and a big run very possible from a most appealing mark.

Form: 565577

(9)

Canford Bay¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 53

10/1

Lightly raced (just six career starts), so every possibility that there's improvement to come. Finished 1¼L third to Groundworker over C&D last week (Young Tiger second), and returns for his second AW start seeking his revenge from the same mark.

Form: 5-25673

(14)

Mitchum^p¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: R E Barr| OR: 49| D

12/1

Been a grand horse for his Tees trainer, winning five time from 60 starts. Now 8lb lower than when third to Chip Or Pellet over C&D in July (Hadley runner up), and his regular cheek-pieces return after trying the hood at Catterick latest.

Form: 364556

(12)

Young Tiger^h¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: A Mullen| T: T P Tate| OR: 47

4/1

13 race maiden, but clearly goes very well at this track and now has a portfolio of solid C&D efforts on his CV. His lowly mark makes appeal, and he ran his best race in a while when splitting Groundworker and Canford Bay last week.

Form: 677002

(4)

La Haule Lady^b1²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Sammy Jo Bell⁽³⁾| T: P T Midgley| OR: 47

20/1

14 race maiden who hasn't really shown up on the AW so far, but better on turf more latterly (third to Hamidans Girl over 5f at Beverley latest), and whilst this looks most competitive, the first time blinkers could be of assistance.

Form: 450753

(7)

Thornaby Princess^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Joe Doyle| T: C J Teague| OR: 45| D

50/1

Two of her three career successes have come at Musselburgh, so it was perhaps no shock that she performed with more gusto there last month (third), but she lacks AW experience and doesn't appear to be a horse who can be relied upon to back that up.

Form: 574093

(8)

Trick Of The Lyte^p1¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: David Egan⁽³⁾| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 45

7/1

Won a Catterick nursery in August 2016 (6f good), but has generally struggled since, and most worryingly has shown no aptitude for this track in three previous visits. Down the weights, cheek-pieces applied, but couldn't be fancied.

Form: 076645

Non-Runners

(10)

Andys Girl²⁷⁵

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: B Ellison J: Ben Robinson

Forecasts

Young Tiger (4/1), Groundworker (11/2), Ambitious Icarus (7/1), Trick Of The Lyte (7/1), Windforpower (15/2), Hadley (15/2), Canford Bay (10/1), Mitchum (12/1), Andys Girl (14/1), La Haule Lady (20/1), Bond Bombshell (25/1), See Vermont (25/1), Sunnyside Bob (33/1), Thornaby Princess (50/1)

All good things come to those who wait, and this 5f handicap is by far the toughest puzzle to solve on tonight's card. A plethora of interwoven form lines make for some serious head-scratching with See Vermont, Hadley and Groundworker all clashing at Musselburgh last month, and that's before you add in last week's C&D 1/2/3 of Groundworker, Young Tiger and Canford Bay into the ever muddying waters. Furthermore, with Ambitious Icarus back on the scene of his most recent success, the puzzle continues to get trickier by the minute. Therefore, for a race which will take less than 60 seconds to run, the safest option appears to be to keep it simple. WINDFORPOWER is a force to be reckoned with over 5f at this track, and despite a few lesser efforts of late his current mark of 50 is a gift, and he's fully capable of stamping his presence over the others coming late on the scene from the lowest draw off a generous early pace.