17:10 Newcastle

Tuesday 16 February 2021

All16:4017:1017:4018:1018:4019:1019:40

Bombardier 'March To Your Own Drum' Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 1m 41.76s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Champagne Rules¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-8| J: Andrew Breslin| T: Mrs S A Watt| OR: 71| CD

80/1

C&D winner. Last of 11 in handicap (28/1) at this course (10.2f) 11 days ago. Back down in trip. Hard to make a case for following such an inauspicious reappearance.

Form: 3/5218-0

(8)

Velma¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Oliver Stammers| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 70| CD

7/1

C&D winner. Winner here in October. 11/1, good 4 lengths seventh of 12 to Pholas in handicap at this C&D 19 days ago, not getting clear run. Can't be written off from a fair mark.

Form: 26100-7

(7)

Arabic Welcome¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Christian Howarth⁽⁷⁾| T: M Botti| OR: 70| BF

2/1

Lightly-raced winner. Winner at Wolverhampton in January. Creditable third of 10 in handicap (6/4) at Lingfield (10f, AW) 17 days ago, well positioned. One to consider.

Form: 563-13

(9)

Traveller^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Harry Russell| T: A Brittain| OR: 70| CD

12/1

3-time C&D winner. Five wins from 22 runs last year. 16/1, 4¾ lengths ninth of 12 to Pholas in handicap at this C&D 19 days ago. Liable to bounce back quickly.

Form: 36264-9

(2)

Greek Kodiac^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Joe Bradnam⁽⁷⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 68| BF| C

9/1

Course winner. Two wins from 6 runs last year. 2/1, third of 5 in handicap at Southwell (8.1f) 12 days ago. First run for yard after leaving Kevin Philippart De Foy. Mark looks about right.

Form: 0901-33

(6)

Pholas^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: M Crehan⁽³⁾| T: G Boughey| OR: 65| CD

7/2

C&D winner. Winner here in January. 7/2, creditable third of 11 in handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 16 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Remains of firm interest.

Form: 48-9313

(4)

Zabeel Star¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: Shannon Watts⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 65| CD

22/1

Unreliable type. C&D winner. Latest win here in November. 50/1, tenth of 14 in handicap at this C&D 11 days ago.

Form: 1505-50

(3)

Elusive Heights¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Billy Garritty| T: K Tutty| OR: 60| D

13/2

Form: 42768-4

(1)

Absolute Dream^v¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: Joanna Mason| T: R A Fahey| OR: 52

6/1

One win from 28 Flat runs. Twenty runs since last win in 2018. 11/2, good second of 10 in handicap at this C&D 19 days ago, clear of rest. Hasn't won for a long time.

Form: 5483-62

Forecasts

Arabic Welcome (2/1), Pholas (7/2), Absolute Dream (6/1), Elusive Heights (13/2), Velma (7/1), Greek Kodiac (9/1), Traveller (12/1), Zabeel Star (22/1), Champagne Rules (80/1)

PHOLAS is going the right way and shaped well when third from a poor tactical position at Wolverhampton last time. The return to Newcastle should bring more out of her, so she's preferred to Arabic Welcome, who is also on the up, with Absolute Dream also worth considering despite his poor strike rate.