18:15 Newcastle

Friday 29 September 2017

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

125 Plate Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 18:19 | Winning time: 1m 40.0s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Torrid⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 82| D

14/1

Bumped into the talented El Vip when runner up over C&D in early June (beaten 2¼L) and returns off the same mark after a couple of more moderate efforts on turf since.

Form: 82-1250

(10)

Excel Again⁶⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: J Tate| OR: 82| BF| CD

5/2

Unbeaten over C&D (2 from 2), but he's 5lb above his last winning mark and this represents his sternest test yet. However, still lightly raced after just six career starts, and he might prove capable of passing the test.

Form: 313415

(6)

Auspicion¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: A Mullen| T: T P Tate| OR: 78| CD

5/1

Some dispute as to whether or not he broke the 1m track record when winning here last month, but he enjoys this track nevertheless and has stamina aplenty (a dual course winner over 1m2f). 4lb higher but fully respected.

Form: 817391

(8)

Fayez¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Shelley Birkett⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 81

12/1

Beat Character Onesie by ½L when successful over the extended mile at Wolverhampton last month, and probably ran to a similar level when beaten twice since. Lightly raced on the AW, but perhaps not strong enough in this contest.

Form: 526145

(11)

Dubai Elegance^p³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Callum Shepherd⁽³⁾| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 80

7/1

6f Chelmsford maiden winner (October 2016), but a beaten favourite here (7f) the following month and hasn't appeared any great shakes in handicaps more recently. Cost 200,000 gns and stamina in her pedigree, but something to prove.

Form: 315-44

(12)

Rashford's Double^p²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 80| CD

9/1

Notched a hat-trick in nurseries last backend, and was fairly impressive in maintaining an unbeaten record over C&D (2 from 2). Paid the price a little this year, but still running well and of definite interest back on the AW.

Form: 630254

(2)

Oud Metha Bridge³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: F Norton| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 78| CD

16/1

It wasn't a strong 1m maiden that he won here in March (by 6L), and he's found life tougher on turf since. His AW mark is probably plenty high enough at present, but a return to this track might prove beneficial.

Form: 210747

(3)

Alkashaaf^p,t²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: P Makin| T: A Watson| OR: 78| C

33/1

Has raced mainly on the AW during a 12 race career, winning twice over 6f (Polytrack and Tapeta). His summer turf efforts can be ignored, but his stamina is the worry tonight.

Form: 1V9077

(1)

Derek Duval^t¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: B A Curtis| T: S C Williams| OR: 77

9/1

Beat Merlin by 1½L when taking a 7f Newmarket handicap in June (good to firm) and has won on Tapeta at Wolverhampton (6f maiden) earlier in the year. Possibly a fraction high in the weights, but has been competing in stronger races in the main.

Form: 812578

(9)

Archipeligo^p¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 71| C

17/2

Proved himself as a fair performer over 1m2f here this year despite a steady rise in the weights, however, his form has begun to tail off a fraction and he looks vulnerable from this mark over 1m.

Form: 215755

Non-Runners

(4)

Hidden Rebel¹³

Weight: 9-6| Age: 5

T: A C Whillans J: P Mulrennan

(7)

Weather Front²

Weight: 8-9| Age: 4

T: Karen McLintock J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Excel Again (5/2), Auspicion (5/1), Dubai Elegance (7/1), Archipeligo (17/2), Rashford's Double (9/1), Derek Duval (9/1), Fayez (12/1), Torrid (14/1), Oud Metha Bridge (16/1), Weather Front (16/1), Alkashaaf (33/1), Hidden Rebel (33/1)

A competitive first division of the 1m handicap, and predictably plenty of previous Newcastle form in which to sink our teeth into. Auspicion galloped right through the line when switched back to this trip here earlier in the month and must surely go well despite a small rise in the weights, whilst Excel Again is a lightly raced sort with an unblemished C&D record. Derek Duval has been mixing it in decent events since winning at Newmarket in July (7f) and could out run his projected odds from a low draw, but the likeable RASHFORD'S DOUBLE gets the nod. He proved himself to be a hardy and progressive juvenile around this time last year, and has been shaping (on turf) as if his winning turn is approaching, so tonight could be the best time to catch him as he returns to his favoured stamping ground for the first time since October 2016.