16:00 Newcastle

Thursday 28 December 2023

All15:3016:0016:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:00

Win 2,000,000 With BetMGM's Golden Goals Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 1m 44.01s

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Selected odds by:

(3)

Cosmos Raj^p⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 71| D

11/4

15/2, good third of 12 in handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 6 days ago, running on. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 252543

(2)

Showmedemoney^p,t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 69| CD

16/1

C&D winner. 3 wins from 17 runs this year. Latest win at Carlisle in September. 18/1, eighth of 12 in handicap at this course (7.1f) 12 days ago, pushed along 2f out and one paced. Others appeal more.

Form: 103388

(4)

Sandret⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Andrew Breslin⁽³⁾| T: B Haslam| OR: 68| CD

5/1

C&D winner. Very good second of 12 in handicap (40/1) at this C&D 58 days ago, going well when not clear run from 2f out. One to consider on the back of that operating just 1 lb above last winning mark.

Form: 15-6952

(9)

Surprise Picture¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 68| D

14/1

3 wins from 16 runs this year. Eleventh of 12 in handicap at this course (7.1f, 25/1) 12 days ago, keeping on when no room inside final 1f. Handicapper has relinquished his grip a little more ahead of this.

Form: 295070

(1)

Rocket Rod²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: S H James| T: G A Harker| OR: 67| CD

12/1

C&D winner. 17/2, below form fifth of 12 in handicap at Southwell (7.1f) 21 days ago. Had previously caught the eye when runner-up over C&D in November and better showing anticipated returned to this venue.

Form: 480625

(8)

Lady Mojito¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Cam Hardie| T: R A Fahey| OR: 67

20/1

20/1 and visored for 1st time, fifth of 7 in handicap at Southwell (8.1f) 16 days ago, beaten 1f out. Drop back down in grade rates a plus and headgear quickly discarded here.

Form: 075575

(7)

Finn Russell¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: K T O'Neill| T: Ian Williams| OR: 66| D

9/2

Latest win at Lingfield (1m) in December. Respectable fifth of 11 in handicap (7/2) at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 18 days ago, clipping heels and stumbling after 1f. Expected to be thereabouts.

Form: 970115

(5)

Cusack^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Jonny Peate⁽³⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 65| CD

10/3

4-time course winner. Latest win here in October. Creditable second of 10 in handicap (9/2) at this C&D 12 days ago, headed final 100 yds. Versatile sort and another who can't be ruled out in present groove.

Form: 319232

(6)

Struck Gold^b³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: A J Farragher| T: J Butler| OR: 54| D

12/1

Found some improvement for the step up in trip of late, off the mark at Wolverhampton (8.6f) and did well under the circumstances to follow-up at Chelmsford (1m) 37 days ago, plenty to do 2f out and staying on to lead late on. That may not prove his limit.

Form: 276611

Forecasts

Cosmos Raj (11/4), Cusack (10/3), Finn Russell (9/2), Sandret (5/1), Rocket Rod (12/1), Struck Gold (12/1), Surprise Picture (14/1), Showmedemoney (16/1), Lady Mojito (20/1)

Plenty of in-form sorts in opposition but SANDRET did well under the circumstances and dropped the hint his turn is imminent when finishing a good second in a C&D handicap in October and he shades the vote. Rocket Rod returned to this venue, Cusack and the hat-trick seeking Struck Gold head the dangers.