Racecards
15:55 Newcastle
Will Pugh 21st Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 91y
- Going: Good (Good to Firm in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £11,800 added
- Winner: £6,232
- 2nd: £2,867
- 3rd: £1,434
- 4th: £717
- Form 2115P3
- Age 11
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer David Dennis
- Jockey B S Hughes
led, headed 5th, regained lead 7th, headed before 15th, soon pushed along, outpaced by leaders 4 out, kept on same pace approaching last
- Form 45U-2P4
- Age 8
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer O Greenall & J Guerriero
- Jockey Henry Brooke
midfield in touch, mistake 10th, driven in last before 15th, weakened before 2 out
- Form 8-31144
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey P W Wadge
midfield in touch, headway and pressed for lead 15th, ridden before 3 out where 1 length down, 2 lengths down 2 out, 5 lengths down approaching last, weakened run-in
- Form 4-43146
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey Mr William Easterby
prominent, led 5th, headed and chased leader 7th, led again before 15th where pressed for lead, 1 length ahead 3 out, soon pushed along, 2 lengths ahead 2 out, 5 lengths ahead approaching last, stayed on well run-in
- Form 25-4432
- Age 6
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer R Menzies
- Jockey Nathan Moscrop
NonRunner
- Form 711-31P
- Age 10
- Weight 12-1
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer R Dobbin
- Jockey Craig Nichol
NonRunner
- Form 9-3142P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer G Bewley
- Jockey Jonathon Bewley
NonRunner
- Form 224058
- Age 9
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer S Waugh
- Jockey William Shanahan
NonRunner
In depth
Verdict
Twoshotsoftequila has yet to race over this far but has been in the mix over shorter trips lately. HITMAN FRED was pulled-up on testing going last time but has won five of only 10 starts so far over fences. He has his ground today having landed a higher grade contest at Ayr in December and can go in again. Return Fire scored over track and trip before finding the selection too good and Flying Verse is preferred with Brian Hughes back on board for the first time since winning at Musselburgh in November.
Formwatch
Flying Verse 16-1 (11-8) Handy, left in narrow lead 4th, pushed along and headed 3 out, kept on until no extra run-in, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Forward Plan (11-12) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Dragonfruit 12-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders close up, went 2nd after 14th, ridden 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 8, 13 1/2l behind Forward Plan (11-12) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Return Fire (IRE) 9-2 (11-13) Prominent, lost place when hampered 13th, stumbled 15th, closed 4 out, switched right before 3 out, no impression from 2 out, 4th of 10, 10 1/2l behind Ballynagran (10-2) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Court At Slip (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Mid-division, pushed along after 10th, towards rear when hampered 13th, mistake and well beaten 3 out, 6th of 10, 13 1/2l behind Ballynagran (10-2) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Twoshotsoftequila (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Waited with towards rear, steady headway before 13th, went on inside 2 out, led narrowly between last two, headed last, readily outpaced by winner run-in, 2nd of 10, 2l behind If Not For Dylan (12-2) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Hitman Fred (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Tracked leader until 3rd, tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up 2 out, at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Follow Your Arrow (FR) 7-1 (11-13) Held up towards rear, outpaced 4 out, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out, at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Feb.
Loughermore (IRE) 33-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, went prominent 3rd, led 3 out, headed before 2 out, no extra before last, 8th of 16, 8 1/4l behind Blue Shark (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Jan.