16:42 Newcastle

Friday 18 April 2025

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:0716:42

BetUK All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 16:43 | Winning time: 3m 26.14s

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(11)

Roaring Legend^t⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: David Probert| T: H Palmer| OR: 104| CD

10/3

Thrived returned to this sphere for new yard, finding further improvement as he brought up the hat-trick in 10-runner handicap at Lingfield (15.8f, AW) 49 days ago, quickening clear over 2f out and soon in control. Up 8 lb but definite possibilities in bid to land the 4-timer.

Form: 821/111

(8)

Wonder Legend³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J Ferguson| OR: 100

4/1

Lightly-raced 5-y-o who has held his form well on AW this winter and turned in a career-best effort when seeing off Plage de Havre by 2¾ lengths in 5 runner handicap at Wolverhampton (14f) 5 weeks ago. That ought not to prove his limit as a stayer and claims up 4 lb.

Form: 6231-21

(1)

Duke Of Oxford^t¹²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Hector Crouch| T: M L W Bell| OR: 96| D

8/1

Reliable stayer on all-weather who was an excellent second in this 12 months ago. Looked as good as ever when landing back-to-back handicaps under this rider at Kempton (2m) late on last year and claims despite career-high mark, particularly granted a good pace to aim at.

Form: 038311-

(2)

Plage De Havre³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 92| C

5/2

Progressive son of Le Havre who got off the mark in handicap over 12.5f here in February. Backed that up without being seen to anything like best effect when 2¾ lengths second of 5 to Wonder Legend in handicap at Wolverhampton (14f) 34 days ago and he's of interest as an unexposed stayer.

Form: 6/22-212

(12)

Tritonic^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: Rossa Ryan| T: A King| OR: 90| D

14/1

Versatile 7-y-o but he turned in a lacklustre display after 3 months off when fifth of 9 in handicap at Kempton (16f, 33/1) 20 days ago, labouring 3f out. May be sharper with that run under his belt with cheekpieces refitted but others appeal more for win purposes.

Form: 06320-5

(13)

Heathen⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Mark Winn| T: D O'Meara| OR: 85| C

25/1

Boasts a good record when fresh, looking at least as good as ever returning from a 9-week break when winning 6-runner handicap at Wolverhampton (14f) in February, quickening up best. Given a break ahead of this and a 4 lb rise shouldn't prevent another good showing.

Form: 78014-1

(4)

Tribal Star^p²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Jamie Powell⁽³⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 86

20/1

Irish raider who has improved on AW this winter, off the mark in maiden at Dundalk (12f) and best effort yet when second of 14 in handicap back there (10.7f) 4 weeks ago. Unexposed at marathon trips and he's not discounted.

Form: 34312-2

(10)

Humble Spark¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Amie Waugh⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 84| C

40/1

Thrived on a busy schedule in recent months, his victory at Southwell (11.1f) in March his fourth since December. However, looked stretched by the trip when fourth of 7 in handicap at that course (14.1f) 2 weeks ago and this rates an even deeper assignment. Also declared 4.07.

Form: 221614

(7)

Midnight Lion²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Lauren Young⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 82| C

20/1

Has done really well at this venue since joining present yard, posting a career-best display when winning 7-runner handicap (3/1) at this course (10.2f) 20 days ago, comfortably. Has form at this trip and clearly thriving but this demands more from career-high mark.

Form: 432311

(6)

Circuit Breaker²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: J Fanning| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 82| D

28/1

Dual winner on Flat for Ralph Beckett and also successful over hurdles for this yard at Kempton (21f) in the autumn. However, not at best in this sphere in recent months, sixth of 8 in handicap (6/1) at Southwell (16.5f) 21 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 2/36-356

(5)

King Chaos⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Laura Coughlan⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 81| BF

66/1

Kingman gelding who built on an encouraging stable debut effort when readily justifying cramped odds in 7-runner novice at Southwell (11.1f) in December. However, below best after 4 months off when fifth of 7 on handicap debut here (10.2f) 8 days ago and this is even tougher.

Form: 3331-5

(9)

Wonder²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 78| D

11/1

4-y-o gelding who has built up a solid record on AW in recent months, resuming winning ways in 3-runner handicap on penultimate start prior to finishing good second behind a well-treated sort in 8-runner handicap back at Southwell (16.5f) 3 weeks ago. Each-way claims up in class.

Form: 14-2312

(3)

Weddell Sea^p,t³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-2| J: A Mullen| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 72| CD

33/1

Well suited by the step back up in trip in recent months, defying a small rise in the weights when landing a second C&D handicap in succession 37 days ago. However, faces a much sterner assignment in hat-trick bid from out of the weights.

Form: 2525-11

(14)

Chillhi²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Ethan Tindall⁽⁷⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 65| C

100/1

Not scored since 1m success here in 2022 and increasingly hindering himself with slow starts over shorter trips in recent weeks. Hard to fancy back up significantly in trip from long way out of the weights.

Form: 0057-60

Forecasts

Plage De Havre (5/2), Roaring Legend (10/3), Wonder Legend (4/1), Duke Of Oxford (8/1), Wonder (11/1), Tritonic (14/1), Tribal Star (20/1), Midnight Lion (20/1), Heathen (25/1), Circuit Breaker (28/1), Weddell Sea (33/1), Humble Spark (40/1), King Chaos (66/1), Chillhi (100/1)

Claims can be made for a few in a red-hot finale including PLAGE DE HAVRE, who found the run of the race against him when chasing home re-opposing Wonder Legend at Wolverhampton 5 weeks ago. Completely unexposed at this trip and hailing from a stable firmly amongst the winners, he's fancied to make a bold bid. Aforementioned Wonder Legend, Roaring Legend and Duke of Oxford all arrive in rude health and merit consideration. Heathen also makes each-way appeal.