15:43 Newcastle

Friday 21 February 2020

All12:3013:0013:3514:0714:4015:1015:43

Allingtons Kia 'Jumpers' Bumper' NH Flat Race

Off time: 15:44 | Winning time: 3m 44.9s

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Selected odds by:

Casimir Du Clos⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| BF| D

66/1

A positive spell of Hexham form (hurdles and fences) came to an abrupt end with a bitterly disappointing effort (beaten 6-5f) in mid-December; off since (for 72 days); others more convincing at this level.

Form:

Drums Of War^p¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C Grant| CD

25/1

Led in the final strides when a surprise C&D Flat winner (14-1) ten days ago; no obvious reason as to why he shouldn't run another reasonably solid race here; chance.

Form:

George Gently⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Justin Landy

12/1

Ex-Dan Skelton (sold cheaply in May 2018); was beaten 17L by Malystic on debut for Justin Landy at Musselburgh (1m7½f, good to soft) in December.

Form:

Imperial Focus^v³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁵⁾| T: S Waugh

40/1

Still seeking his first career success (0-33 overall); was beaten 1½L when hitting the frame in a 1m4½f Class 6 handicap here in January.

Form:

Lostock Hall^b1²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Bourke| D

20/1

Well backed when winning over hurdles here (2m, good to soft) for Tristan Davidson in March 2019; hasn't shown any further improvement since; fitted with blinkers on fourth start for former jumps' jockey Daragh Bourke.

Form:

Ted Veale⁴⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| D

50/1

Veteran of 65 races under rules (11 wins); cut some slack by the handicapper of late and showed more verve here recently (fourth); this bumper run should simply keep him ticking over; others far more obvious.

Form:

Tim Rocco^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| D

66/1

More miss than hit since winning back-to-back races over hurdles in March 2019 (Doncaster & Newcastle); with a shrewd trainer, and this probably isn't the deepest of AW bumpers; consult the market for any positive signals.

Form:

Zabeel Star²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: Karen McLintock| BF| C

12/1

Versatile all-rounder for the locally based trainer Karen McLintock; was slowly away when a keeping on fourth to Ice Pyramid here (1m4½f) on his penultimate start; place possible.

Form:

Bravantina^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Ross Chapman| T: M Walford| CD

20/1

100-1 Flat winner here (2m½f) in December; was beaten 29L (third) by Emma's Joy in a 2m mares' novices' hurdle at Wetherby (2m, soft) three weeks ago; holds minor place claims.

Form:

Winfola³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Kirby

12/1

Won five times on the Flat in France (1m2f-1m4f) for X Thomas-Demeulte; sold for €22,000 in November 2019; in with a definite chance when falling heavily at the final flight at Musselburgh (1m7½f, gd/sft) five weeks ago.

Form:

Dark Lochnagar²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| BF

4/5

88-rated on the Flat; given a positive front-running ride when winning at Chester (1m2½f, soft) last summer; fell at the third flight (6-4f) on hurdles debut in a race won by the sadly ill-fated Tavus at Wetherby (2m, soft) four weeks ago.

Form:

Whiskey And Water¹³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| BF

9/2

Made a pleasing start over hurdles last summer (won on his second start at Market Rasen); has been given a 138-day break since finishing 16L third to Goldencard at Kelso (2m, soft) in early October.

Form:

Forecasts

Dark Lochnagar (4/5), Whiskey And Water (9/2), Zabeel Star (12/1), Winfola (12/1), George Gently (12/1), Bravantina (20/1), Lostock Hall (20/1), Drums Of War (25/1), Imperial Focus (40/1), Ted Veale (50/1), Tim Rocco (66/1), Casimir Du Clos (66/1)

Tim Rocco and Zabeel Star are both capable hurdlers when firing on all cylinders so could offer potential value in the each-way or place markets. Winfola was bang in contention when hitting the deck on hurdles debut, so needs tracking in the market exchanges along with the recent C&D (Flat) winner Drums Of War. However, the horse who makes most appeal is the Keith Dalgleish-trained/Brian Hughes-ridden DARK LOCHNAGER. Useful on the Flat (88-rated) he was well backed when falling early on hurdles debut at Wetherby four weeks ago in a race won by the sadly ill-fated Tavus (Jedd O'Keeffe).