Racecards
17:05 Newcastle
Betway Handicap (Class 3)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f 98y
- Going: Standard / Slow
- Surface: AllWeather
- £10,400 added
- Winner: £6,728
- 2nd: £2,002
- 3rd: £1,000
- 4th: £500
- Form 618223/
- Age 6
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey Jane Elliott
raced wide prominent, led 8f out, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 160538-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer R Fell & S Murray
- Jockey Callum Rodriguez
tracked leaders, led 3f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, kept on one pace
- Form 09/6637-
- Age 7
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam
- Jockey J F Egan
raced wide, keen tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, weakened 2f out
- Form 112167/
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey Jim Crowley
in rear, no chance when brought down over 1f out
- Form 2221-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer P A Kirby
- Jockey P J McDonald
dwelt towards rear, headway when clipped heels and fell 2f out
- Form 2/33-121
- Age 5
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer P A Kirby
- Jockey B A Curtis
held up, ridden and headway 2f out, no impression after
- Form 112176-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey J Fanning
led, headed 8f out, tracked leader, weakened final furlong
- Form 562203-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 91
held up, ridden and headway 2f out, no impression after
- Form 091917/
- Age 6
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer Grant Tuer
- Jockey S H James
keen close up, pushed along over 4f out, lost place over 2f out
- Form 311239-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey R Havlin
close up, pushed along to chase leader over 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, headed towards finish
Alignak
252- Form 8/231-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey Oisin Murphy
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, soon switched left, ran on to lead towards finish
- Form 9-32153
- Age 7
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer Miss Gay Kelleway
- Jockey L Morris
raced wide in touch, pushed along and headway 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace
In depth
Verdict
Mark Johnston runs two with Star Of The East having stronger form than Bo Samraan but he hasn’t raced since 2018 and Joe Fanning partners the latter. Ice Pyramid and stablemate December Second won easily over course and distance and at Haydock respectively when last in action though both also have a hike in the weights to contend with while Makawee is arguably better over a longer trip. Alignak won a novice event for Sir Michael Stoute at Kempton back in September and makes his handicap debut while GOOD TIDINGS has been gelded since showing signs of temperament at the end of last year. John Gosden’s dual novice winner had shown plenty of ability before that when going close in tougher handicaps than this and gets the vote on his comeback.
Formwatch
Star Of The East (IRE) 7-2 (9-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, not much room entering final furlong, ridden and kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Byron Flyer (9-12) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Anythingtoday (IRE) 20-1 (9-12) Held up, headway when not clear run over 2f out, switched right, never on terms, 8th of 19, 8 1/4l behind Dubai Icon (9-2) at York 1m 2f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
To Be Wild (IRE) 40-1 (9-3) Led 1f, tracked leader until pushed along 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 17 1/4l behind Raymond Tusk (9-3) at Newcastle 2m stks (2) pol in Dec.
Financial Conduct (IRE) 5-2 (11-8) Chased leaders, not always fluent, losing place when hampered 2 out, 8th of 11, 20 3/4l behind Northern Princess (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov.
December Second (IRE) 3-1 (9-9) Slowly into stride, led over 2f out, ran on well, won at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (4) gf in Aug beating Celestial Force (9-6) by 5l, 9 ran.
Ice Pyramid (IRE) 1-2fav (9-10) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway into 3rd over 3f out, led 2f out, ridden clear inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Feb beating Groveman (9-7) by 5l, 7 ran.
Bo Samraan (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) Led until 2f out, faded final furlong, 6th of 7, 6 1/4l behind Furzig (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Makawee (IRE) 11-4 (9-8) Steadied start, close up in 4th, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, kept on to go 3rd close home, 3rd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Maybe Today (9-4) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp fll (2) gf in Sep.
Bolder Bob (IRE) 4-1 (8-12) Led to post early, always in rear, 7th of 8, 17 1/4l behind Reshoun (8-11) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (2) hvy in Sep.
Good Tidings (FR) 10-3fav (9-0) Headway to lead after 2f and set decent pace, steadied 6f out, reminders over 5f out, headed over 4 out, weakened rapidly behind and eased final 3f, tailed off, last of 9, dist behind Pianissimo (8-7) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Alignak 6-4fav (9-2) Chased leaders, led over 2f out, clear from over 1f out, easily, won at Kempton 1m 3f stks (4) pol in Sep beating Noble Music (8-11) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
Cosmelli (ITY) 20-1 (9-8) Held up in rear, pushed along and headway over 1f out, ran on, nearest finish, 3rd of 10, 5 1/4l behind Birds Of Prey (9-12) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) pol in Mar.