16:05 Newcastle

Saturday 16 December 2017

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:35

sunbets.co.uk Handicap

Off time: 16:06 | Winning time: 1m 27.09s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Reckless Endeavour¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D C Costello| T: J A Osborne| OR: 98| D

9/1

Twice a winner over 6f at Dundalk before changing hands for 50,000 guineas and made an encouraging debut for this yard at Kempton (6f) when third of 12. Step back up to 7f should suit so very much a player.

Form: 001013

(6)

Charles Molson²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: P R Chamings| OR: 96| D

5/1

Has picked up a couple of fair races in his career but overall strike-rate isn't encouraging (3-40). Mid-division in his two most recent AW starts and, for all his consistency, others look better handicapped right now.

Form: 305556

(7)

Brittanic²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: T Eaves| T: D M Simcock| OR: 95| CD

3/1

Looked a nice sort when kicking off with two wins on this track last winter (7f and 1m) but underwhelming in two runs since returning from a lengthy absence, most recently at Lingfield. Makes a handicap debut with something to prove.

Form: 1-175

(9)

Rene Mathis⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 95| D

9/1

High-class performer at best who has won off higher marks and landed a conditions event at Thirsk in April. Just two runs since but an interesting runner on the AW, having won two from three on the surface in his younger days.

Form: 950105

(3)

Hakam^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: A Mullen| T: M Appleby| OR: 93| D

12/1

All four wins have been on the AW, including two earlier this year, and has shaped better than the bare form suggests in his last two starts (short of room on both occasions). Solid claims off present mark.

Form: 042063

(11)

Swift Approval^t,v²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Aaron Jones⁽³⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 92| D

11/2

Regular winner for Kevin Ryan, including an AW success in France but just the one win for this yard in 2017. Much better effort in a first-time visor when second at Chelmsford recently (7f) so not without hope.

Form: 160002

(8)

Qaffaal²³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 90| C| D

10/1

Enjoyed a productive AW campaign last winter, rattling off a Chelmsford hat-trick at one point and has remained competitive off higher marks since. Closely-matched with Swift Approval when third at Chelmsford (7f) last time out. Possibilities.

Form: 633093

(2)

Bertiewhittle¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 8-10| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁷⁾| T: T D Barron| OR: 87| D

16/1

Getting into the veteran stages of his career now but scored off a higher mark than this at Doncaster (7f) in the summer. Decent effort when fourth over an inadequate 6f here last time but is now 0-14 on the AW.

Form: 108334

(1)

Pastime²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 87| BF| CD

9/1

Won twice on a Tapeta surface earlier this year, including over C&D, and had gone close in every turf run since before blotting his copybook with a poor run at Chelmsford latest (ran too bad to be true). Not written off.

Form: 132230

(10)

Heaven's Guest³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: P Mathers| T: R A Fahey| OR: 85| D

8/1

High-class turf handicapper in his prime (nine wins) but evidently not the force old old judged on this season's efforts. Mark has plummeted though and it will be interesting to see how he fares on his belated AW debut.

Form: 003480

(4)

Alexandrakollontai^b²³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-5| J: Cam Hardie| T: A C Whillans| OR: 82| C| D

33/1

Twice a winner on the AW to add to her 10 gained on turf but she has lacked consistency this season and tends to operate at a lower level. Others make more appeal in a tough race.

Form: 755320

Forecasts

Brittanic (3/1), Charles Molson (5/1), Swift Approval (11/2), Heaven's Guest (8/1), Pastime (9/1), Reckless Endeavour (9/1), Rene Mathis (9/1), Qaffaal (10/1), Hakam (12/1), Bertiewhittle (16/1), Alexandrakollontai (33/1)

A hot race in which a credible case could be made out for both Swift Approval and Qaffaal who are closely-matched on their recent Chelmsford running, as well as Hakam who hasn't had the run of the race the last twice. For all that, progressive Irish recruit RECKLESS ENDEAVOUR shaped encouragingly on his debut for Jamie Osborne at Kempton last month and gives the impression his current mark isn't beyond him.