14:40 Newcastle

Saturday 30 June 2018

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:25

Border Steelwork & Cladding Handicap

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 2m 43.72s

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Selected odds by:

(14)

Good Time Ahead¹²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: P A Kirby| OR: 80| CD

15/2

His very best form has come on Fibresand at Southwell but he's effective on Tapeta, as seen when winning over C&D in October. Needs to negotiate a tricky draw but drop back to this trip is likely to be a positive and he's one to consider.

Form: 112-352

(6)

Belisa²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Jim Crowley| T: I Furtado| OR: 79| C

5/1

Progressive sort who has won three of her last five starts. First of those victories came here over 1m and she can be forgiven her effort last time when doing too much too soon. Interesting runner with more progress likely.

Form: 0121-14

(9)

Against The Odds¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Fran Berry| T: Tom Clover| OR: 78| D

5/1

Not won since 2016 and his two efforts for this yard have been below par. Having his first run at this course but has enough to prove at present and probably best watched for now.

Form: 20/83-49

(4)

Medalla De Oro^h¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J Mitchell| T: P W Chapple-Hyam| OR: 77| BF

8/1

His two wins from 14 starts have both come at Windsor in August before his form tailed off last year. Showed very little on his seasonal reappearance and he finished unplaced on his only two AW starts as a juvenile. Others preferred.

Form: 12666-3

(8)

Al Kout^h1³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: B A Curtis| T: H Main| OR: 77

16/1

Winner on debut at Wolverhampton on Tapeta but his form in two subsequent AW runs has been very poor. Plenty to prove at present and likely to need some relief from the handicapper before he's of interest. Wears a first-time hood.

Form: 19-8

(2)

Airton^p1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: J D Bethell| OR: 76| CD

7/2

Dual C&D winner returning just 1lb above his last winning mark. His return run at Nottingham was encouraging and while he disappointed last time out at Carlisle, the drop back in trip looks in his favour. Opposable given his inconsistent profile.

Form: 3588-26

(3)

Sugarloaf Mountain¹⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: D Allan| T: B Ellison| OR: 73| C

10/1

Belatedly off the mark here last time out over 2m½f but this looks tougher and he's opposable here back down in trip on his return from an absence.

Form: 42234-1

(13)

Always Resolute¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 73| D

16/1

Yet to win in five starts on AW and his losing run goes all the way back to 2016 when a winner at Chester. Campaigned over hurdles in recent times but his return to this sphere was underwhelming at York last time and drop in trip may be against him.

Form: 0/4304-0

(11)

Swaheen^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: P Mulrennan| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 71| D

40/1

Just one win since 2015 when a winner at Carlisle on soft ground. His two tries on AW have been below par and he's been well below form in two outings this year. Plenty to prove at present.

Form: 4348-05

(5)

Hediddodinthe^p⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Hart| T: I Jardine| OR: 70| C

10/1

Sole win in 12 starts came here when a remarkably easy winner but flattered by being held up off a strong pace that day and he's struggled from his revised mark having been raised over 16lb by the handicapper. Back down in trip and others preferred.

Form: 221674

(1)

Card High^t⁶⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: J Fanning| T: W Storey| OR: 68| D

25/1

Produced one of his better efforts when runner-up at Carlisle on his final start of 2017 and returned with a promise effort at Catterick. His C&D form is the main concern though, unplaced in four attempts.

Form: 76472-4

(12)

Imperial Focus⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Aled Beech⁽⁷⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 66

50/1

Still a maiden after 12 Flat starts and well beaten in a maiden hurdle when last seen. Unplaced on all runs in 2018 and hard to fancy despite some relief from the handicapper of late.

Form: 2-50705

(10)

Archive⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-6| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 65

20/1

Winner on debut for this yard in heavy ground over fences. Lightly raced on the Flat and well beaten when stepped up to this trip last time out at Wolverhampton. Opening handicap mark looks workable but hard to fancy on what he's shown so far.

Form: 637

Non-Runners

(7)

Lopes Dancer²⁵⁴

Weight: 9-7| Age: 6

T: H Bethell J: P Hanagan

Forecasts

Airton (7/2), Belisa (5/1), Against The Odds (5/1), Good Time Ahead (15/2), Medalla De Oro (8/1), Sugarloaf Mountain (10/1), Hediddodinthe (10/1), Lopes Dancer (10/1), Al Kout (16/1), Always Resolute (16/1), Archive (20/1), Card High (25/1), Swaheen (40/1), Imperial Focus (50/1)

The sole filly in the race BELISA could be the one to keep on side here and she's less exposed than many of her rivals. It's worth forgiving her effort last time out when she did too much too soon and with the step up in trip a potential source for further improvement, she could prove hard to beat. Good Time Ahead has a course and distance win to his name and isn't ruled out despite his career high mark. Lopes Dancer is another to consider if ready to go on return from an absence.