Sun Racing Power To The Punter Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 17:37 | Winning time: 4m 17.3s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Ask Himself⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore

6/4

Made most until caught close home by the Harry Whittington-trained Young Bull on rules debut at Chepstow (2m, heavy) in December; that form looks fairly modest but conditions are suitable for another good run.

Form: 3-2

Elf De Re³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Thomson

10/1

Cost €20,000 as a 3yo; shaped encouragingly on debut at Kelso last month when finishing sixth of 13 to Enlighten; capable of better at this more galloping track.

Form: 6

Marown

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards

3/1

Cost €80,000 as a 3yo; first foal from an unraced dam who was a half-sister to the 2m4f/3m hurdle/chase winner Cannington Brook; declared a non-runner at Ayr last Saturday.

Form:

Rock On Rocco¹⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: T R George

3/1

Bought for £55,000 in October 2018 (from Cormac Doyle); placed on his second start in an Irish PTP - 3m at Loughrea (good); rules debut for a trainer with a very healthy 28% strike-rate (10-36) at this track.

Form: P-3

Show Promise²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Midgley⁽¹⁰⁾| T: P A Kirby

8/1

Half-brother to the bumper/2m7f hurdle winner Improved; lived up to his name when finishing a staying on second to Malystic (beaten 1L) on the Tapeta here last month; a much different test awaits now switched back to turf.

Form: 82

Big Cheviot

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: Mrs H O Graham

25/1

Eighth foal from a moderate dam (Miss Quickly); half-brother to the PTP/2m4f chase winner Mor Brook; can be expected to benefit from this initial racecourse experience.

Form:

Non-Runners

Shamitsar³⁰⁵

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: R Craggs J: Ross Chapman

Forecasts

Ask Himself (6/4), Marown (3/1), Rock On Rocco (3/1), Show Promise (8/1), Elf De Re (10/1), Big Cheviot (25/1), Shamitsar (25/1)

Tom George has a healthy 28% strike-rate at Newcastle and in a relatively low-key bumper could have a reasonable chance of landing a double with the rules newcomer ROCK ON ROCCO. As always, the market promises to be helpful in assessing the respective chances of these inexperienced horses with others to consider including Marown (Nicky Richards) and Show Promise (Phil Kirby).