19:45 Newcastle

Friday 9 February 2018

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

sunbets.co.uk Handicap

Off time: 19:47 | Winning time: 1m 40.17s

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Selected odds by:

(12)

Paddy A⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P Makin| T: Ian Williams| OR: 65| D

9/2

Chlemsford winner last May who has suffered a serious loss of form in recent months and probably best watched for now.

Form: 368000-

(1)

Honey Badger^p³²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Noel Garbutt⁽³⁾| T: M Herrington| OR: 64| BF| C| D

10/1

In good form during the autumn and the run may have been needed last time. Best recent form has come over shorter, but he stays this far and has to be considered in race as bad as this.

Form: 21813-8

(3)

Kiwi Bay⁷⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 62| CD

12/1

Veteran took his winning tally to 13 with victories at Ayr and Redcar last term plus one over C&D in better grade. On a winning mark under a rider who knows him well and impossible to rule out in such modest company despite the absence.

Form: 416700-

(9)

War Of Succession⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Spencer| T: A G Newcombe| OR: 62| D

7/1

Had looked an untrustworthy sort prior to landing a weak race at Beverley. Has reverted to type for new yard and has finished nearer last than first in all five races for them. Rider does well on this sort and a market check is advised.

Form: 109068-

(2)

Mimic's Memory³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: J Fanning| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 55

7/2

Although her sole victory came at Southwell, her two best performances have come here. She has been running to a consistently higher level than most of these lately, so a drop in the weights and a return to this venue augurs well.

Form: 60535-3

(13)

Joyful Star²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: A Mullen| T: F Watson| OR: 54| C

4/1

His two wins have come 21 months apart and a 7lb rise, for the latest of these three weeks ago, makes his chances of a follow up less obvious.

Form: 4469-41

(11)

Urban Spirit^p⁷¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 50

12/1

Runs to a consistent, albeit modest, level and one which suggests he has work to from this kind of mark.

Form: 605474-

(6)

Percy Verence^p,t⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 45

9/1

24-race maiden who was campaigned over trips ranging from 1m1f-2m last year. Starts this season over a trip requiring him to show more speed than has been evident of late and others make more appeal.

Form: 905575-

(8)

Lukoutoldmakezebak^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁵⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 45

16/1

17-race maiden who was placed in a couple of weak races over 7f in November. This looks a similar standard and he will strip fitter for last month's run following a six week break.

Form: 78933-6

(4)

Breton Blues^b¹⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-2| J: J P Sullivan| T: F Watson| OR: 45

50/1

13-race maiden whose only two frame finishes have come over further. Has hardly beaten a rival at this trip and a six month break makes him even harder to fancy.

Form: 600/000-

(7)

Good Man^p¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: K T O'Neill| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 45

20/1

Former Godolphin horse who has been tried over a variety of distances without success. Hard to see him playing anything other than a supporting role.

Form: 56306-0

(10)

Vecheka⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-2| J: Aled Beech⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 45

80/1

32-race maiden under all codes whose mark continues to fall whilst remaining unappealing as an investment opportunity.

Form: 769-898

(5)

Thornton Frank⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: B Rothwell| OR: 45

80/1

Has scarcely beaten a rival home and his basement mark has been justifiably earned. Impossible to fancy, even in a race as weak as this.

Form: 00/78-

Forecasts

Mimic's Memory (7/2), Joyful Star (4/1), Paddy A (9/2), War Of Succession (7/1), Percy Verence (9/1), Honey Badger (10/1), Urban Spirit (12/1), Kiwi Bay (12/1), Lukoutoldmakezebak (16/1), Good Man (20/1), Breton Blues (50/1), Vecheka (80/1), Thornton Frank (80/1)

There are few that make any appeal in this and even the recent winner Joyful Star looks unattractive having been raised 7lb for picking up a minor prize last time. Honey Badger was in good form in the autumn and he needs to bounce back to that level having been given a pipe opener last month following a break. Kiwi Bay won three times last year and is nicely weighted, but he needs a few runs to reach his peak these days and others look more likely to win. MIMIC'S MEMORY has produced some solid efforts here in he past and her recent form shows she is consistently outperforming these rivals. A drop in the weights and a return to this track are further positives and she looks the most attractive proposition.