14:00 Newcastle

Wednesday 20 February 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:50

Betway Handicap

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 2m 42.84s

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(8)

Desert Ruler¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 0-0| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 81| CD

9/2

High in the weights (5lb above his last winning mark); travelled like the winner until deep inside the final furlong when beaten a head and a nose by Claire Underwood over C&D 19-days ago; could prove sharper for that run.

Form: 27407-3

(9)

Elysees Palace^p³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 0-0| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 80| BF| C

5/2

Two-time course winner (1m2f); beaten at odds of 8/13f on his first attempt at this trip (penultimate start) but that form has been franked by the winner and second since; this galloping track suits better than Lingfield (short-headed last week).

Form: 4/411-13

Dr Richard Kimble¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: C & M Johnston| D

Form: 493198

(7)

Claire Underwood¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 0-0| J: S P Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 81| CD

3/1

Ultra-consistent filly; proved her stamina over C&D when edging out today's rival Desert Ruler 19-days ago; raised 2lb since but effectively better off at the weights with a 5lb claimer now taking the ride; should go close.

Form: 2121-31

(10)

Iconic Belle²²

Age: 5| Weight: 0-0| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: P A Kirby| OR: 77

25/1

Reverts to the Flat (debut on the level for this trainer; ex-Mick Channon) after proving disappointing over hurdles; 0-7 on the AW and potentially too high in the handicap.

Form: 131106

(3)

Tenedos³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 0-0| J: A Kirby| T: E De Giles| OR: 77

25/1

Sole win for Hugo Palmer came on debut at Kempton (1m) in October 2017; sold for 4,000gns in October 2018 and made no impression on the leaders (finished sixth of eight) on stable debut over this trip at Wolverhampton.

Form: 1/5745-6

(4)

Lopes Dancer²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 0-0| J: D Tudhope| T: H Bethell| OR: 73| CD

8/1

Boasts a 25% AW strike-rate (3-12); made all under a canny ride from Joe Fanning to see off Champagne Rules and today's rival Trautmann over C&D latest; 1lb higher in a more competitive race (Class 4).

Form: 6012-41

Tommy Docc¹⁴

Age: 13| Weight: 0-0| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish| D

Form: 8223-31

(6)

Star Ascending^p³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 0-0| J: J P Sullivan| T: J Candlish| OR: 73| D

16/1

Prolific on the AW (10-39) but well beaten on his sole Newcastle start - Class 6; fended off Ice Canyon by a neck (Champarisi fourth) when scoring at Wolverhampton (1m4f) last month; 3lb higher.

Form: 4475-31

Galactic Spirit¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: M Botti

Form: 2/14-5

(1)

Captain Pugwash¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 0-0| J: G Lee| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 70

50/1

Twice a Chelmsford winner (1m2f) for Henry Spiller in the early part of 2018 but quiet in four starts (including over hurdles) for this trainer thus far; edging down the weights, albeit others hold far more obvious claims.

Form: 31560-8

(2)

Trautmann^p,t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 0-0| J: Cam Hardie| T: R Menzies| OR: 69| BF| CD

14/1

Dual C&D winner (Class 6); continues to run his usual solid race with each and every appearance; beaten just over 1L by today's rival Lopes Dancer latest but could find this stiffer level of competition too hot to handle.

Form: 1012-33

(5)

Champarisi³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 0-0| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 67| BF| C| D

8/1

Tapeta proven filly; 3lb higher than when beating Iftiraaq by just under 2L at Wolverhampton (1m4f) in December; very closely matched with both Star Ascending and Trautmaan based on recent form.

Form: 5414-24

Royal Cosmic¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: R A Fahey| CD

Form: 125-411

Forecasts

Elysees Palace (5/2), Claire Underwood (3/1), Desert Ruler (9/2), Lopes Dancer (8/1), Champarisi (8/1), Trautmann (14/1), Star Ascending (16/1), Iconic Belle (25/1), Tenedos (25/1), Captain Pugwash (50/1)

A competitive opener in which the winner will most likely come from the top end of the handicap. Claire Underwood is an ultra-consistent filly and she proved her stamina over this trip when beating the smooth travelling Desert Ruler over C&D 19-days ago. Although the Jedd O'Keeffe-trained runner could strip fitter for that start (his first for over four months), his task is made more difficult with Richard Fahey electing to utilise a 5lb claimer aboard his filly. However, the preferred option is ELYSEES PALACE. Some might be sceptical with regards his chance having been beaten at odds-on on both of last two starts, but a return to this galloping track promises to suit.