15:50 Newcastle

Tuesday 3 March 2020

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:50

Border Minstrel Pub Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:51 | Winning time: 4m 20.5s

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Selected odds by:

Ted Veale¹¹

Age: 13| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 108| D

8/1

Veteran of 66 races under rules (11 wins); cut some slack by the handicapper and showed more verve when fourth to Gennady over C&D (soft) early in the New Year; has had a more recent spin in a jumpers' bumper; stablemate of Christmas In Usa.

Form: 607648

Get Help^p1²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 107

7/1

Ten-race maiden with plenty of placed form; continues to ease in the weights having dropped out quickly at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) four weeks ago; must show some improvement with cheekpieces enlisted.

Form: 23633P

Ashjan⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 105

16/1

No win since producing a late thrust at Tramore (2m5f, good) in August 2018; left Elizabeth Doyle after competing over fences (0-4) at Downpatrick (2m2f) in September; minimal impression on debut for Sandy Forster, but this is an easier option.

Form: 056074

Lostock Hall^b,t1¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Bourke| OR: 104| CD

13/2

3lb higher than when successful over C&D (beat Christmas In Usa by ½L) for Tristan Davidson in March 2019; 0-4 for since, albeit this is more suitable than the jumpers' bumper he contested latest; first-time tongue-tie accompanies blinkers.

Form: 21-4877

Bingo D'Olivate^h¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 101| D

5/4

Quirky but undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in this grade on soft/heavy ground; won in a hack canter at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) a fortnight ago before being disqualified (rider weighed-in 5lb light); ought to make amends despite a 4lb rise.

Form: 3F-823D

Christmas In Usa^t³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 100| DWS

16/1

Beaten ½L by today's rival Lostock Hall over C&D in March 2019; has struggled for form since comfortably justifying favouritism at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) in November; all hopes pinned on wind surgery; stablemate of the veteran Ted Veale.

Form: 2-81P00

Orkan²⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 98

9/2

Lightly raced maiden (0-8); absent from the track since finishing fourth of seven to Safe Home at Market Rasen (2m½f, good) in May 2019; 4lb lower, but prowess on heavy ground unknown; consult the market for advice.

Form: 8/24P0-4

Lucou³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 99

8/1

Placed on the Flat and over hurdles in France (as recently as May 2019); hasn't shown much ability in four starts for Micky Hammond, but is plummeting in the weights in modest company; any positive market move would offer hope.

Form: 426686

Non-Runners

Elite Icon¹⁵

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: K Scott J: Callum Bewley

Forecasts

Bingo D'Olivate (5/4), Orkan (9/2), Lostock Hall (13/2), Get Help (7/1), Ted Veale (8/1), Lucou (8/1), Elite Icon (12/1), Ashjan (16/1), Christmas In Usa (16/1)

BINGO D'OLIVATE won in a hack canter at Carlisle a fortnight ago but unfortunately for his connections and title-chasing rider Brian Hughes was disqualified post-race (weighed in 5lb light). With a strong preference for testing conditions (soft to heavy) and turned out swiftly with a token weights rise (4lb), he really ought to make amends in an essentially moderate contest. The veteran Ted Veale and the eased-in-grade Ashjan make most appeal for the minor honours.