20:45 Newcastle

Tuesday 20 March 2018

All17:3518:0518:4019:1519:4520:1520:45

Betway Sprint Handicap

Off time: 20:46 | Winning time: 1m 12.29s

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(12)

Russian Realm³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: G Lee| T: P T Midgley| OR: 82| D

6/1

Back from a break over C&D last month when a fast finishing ¾L third to Heaven's Guest. Enters the equation off the same mark being fully expected to progress for that outing.

Form: 74159-3

(5)

Lexington Times^p¹⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: J Garritty| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 81| DWS

11/1

Returns for his seasonal reappearance having had wind surgery over the winter months. No issues with this track despite his sole AW success coming at Lingfield. Trainer saddles two other runners.

Form: 130567-

(2)

Buccaneers Vault¹⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 79| D

18/1

Stablemate of Russian Realm. Ended the 2017 turf campaign in good order winning over this trip at Doncaster in mid September on his penultimate start. Up 6lb and remains an AW maiden (0 from 6). Runner up over C&D in October 2016.

Form: 428412-

(1)

Zebulon¹⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Barry McHugh| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 79| D

40/1

Won twice in small field 5½f-6f contests for his previous trainer Richard Hannon, but moved on for 20,000 gns in October. This trainer (saddles three runners) often does well with others cast-offs. Placed on his sole AW start (Polytrack).

Form: 346216-

(3)

Harome¹⁹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 79| D

25/1

Fairly consistent on turf, and a runner up over 5f on AW debut at this track in October 2016. Off since early September, so fitness taken on trust.

Form: 546234-

(9)

Razin' Hell^v⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: J Balding| OR: 78| D

25/1

Much stronger on the AW (7 from 27) than on turf (1 from 17), and seems to handle any synthetic surface. However, has raced almost exclusively on Fibresand this winter (twice a 5f runner up), but switched to Tapeta seeking a change.

Form: 492-245

(10)

Rich Again^b³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: J D Bethell| OR: 77| C| D

16/1

Not won since January 2017 when recording back-to-back 5f course successes. Sits on a fair mark, and also a past winner over 6f and 7f so is clearly versatile. Beaten just 1L by Regina over 5f here in early January.

Form: 0969-37

(8)

Athollblair Boy⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 76| BF| CD

7/4

Looked all set to record successive course 7f victories until tying up close home and beaten just ½L by Castle Hill Cassie last week. Never runs a bad race at Newcastle and a swift return to 6f looks ideal.

Form: 213-212

(11)

Luis Vaz De Torres^h¹²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 76| D

9/1

Not raced on the AW for over 12 months, and you'd worry as to whether or not this is a pipe-opener for an impending turf campaign. Not shown much on his previous three starts over C&D and that's plenty enough to consider looking elsewhere.

Form: 642069-

(7)

Meshardal¹⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 75| D

28/1

Enjoyed a massively productive campaign on turf last season, winning four times between May and July (all over 6f). Beaten just under 2L (third) on his last visit to Newcastle in March 2017, but now 8lb higher. Trainer triply represented.

Form: 317888-

(4)

Tommy G³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 72

11/2

Worn down close home when beaten ½L by Rosina over 5f here in January (Rich Again another ½L back in third), but not quite so strong over 6f and 7f since. Mark easing, but more to find with Russian Realm (latest).

Form: 785-245

(6)

Logi^b³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Jason Hart| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 71| BF

25/1

Had his fair share of trainers in 15 career starts, including Richard Hannon, David Barron and Richard Guest. Sent off 2/1f on debut for this trainer at Wolverhampton (5f) last month, but finished a never on terms seventh of ten to Liquid.

Form: 32623-7

Forecasts

Athollblair Boy (7/4), Tommy G (11/2), Russian Realm (6/1), Luis Vaz De Torres (9/1), Lexington Times (11/1), Rich Again (16/1), Buccaneers Vault (18/1), Logi (25/1), Harome (25/1), Razin' Hell (25/1), Meshardal (28/1), Zebulon (40/1)

A total of 12 runners, so far and away the biggest field of the evening, but the contest is packed out with stables that are multiply represented, with Ruth Carr saddling a trio, and Paul Midgley a duo. Russian Realm is the pick of the Midgley trained pair, and he's massively respected after posting a rock-solid C&D comeback last month (25/1). However ATHOLLBLAIR BOY is ever consistent at Gosforth Park and whilst he requires a career best effort to score from his current mark (76), he nearly did so over 7f here last week. In rude health, this trip versatile performer is seemingly at his very strongest over 6f at this track, and he's strongly fancied to make amends tonight.