Racecards
20:25 Newcastle
Benfield Renault Handicap (Class 3)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 7f
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £11,000 added
- Form 704354-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 85
dwelt, soon in touch, ridden and effort over 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 6054-06
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 82
tracked leaders, headway when not clear run 2f out, ridden to challenge when edged left 1f out, soon led, held on under pressure, edged right towards finish
- Form 6110-40
- Age 8
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey G Bartley
held up behind, effort 2f out, ridden and no extra final furlong
- Form 20788-2
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 80
led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on just held
- Form 00-8046
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer Miss L A Perratt
- Jockey P Makin
held up, behind, headway 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong
- Form 6008-09
- Age 6
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D Allan
dwelt, soon mid divison, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, held when not much room towards finish
- Form 064000-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey P Mulrennan
chased leader, outpaced 2f out, soon ridden, weakening when not much room approaching final furlong
- Form 7500-70
- Age 6
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 45
- Trainer M A Barnes
- Jockey Dean McKeown
held up behind, short lived effort on outside over 2f out, ridden and weakened 1f out
In depth
Verdict
Daweitza, Against The Grain and Il Castagno are the trio to look at here, with Daweitza taken to shrug off a penalty. A Redcar winner last summer, Il Castagno showed signs of a return to form last time with a good second to Skhilling Spirit at Musselburgh. That was on an easier surface, but he is respected now he has come down the handicap. Against The Grain was returning from a two year absence when landing a Doncaster handicap in March. The handicapper has not been over impressed and he remains on a handy mark and can go well. Daweitza carries a six pound penalty after a good win at Catterick from a well backed runner-up, and although he would carry two pounds less in future races, he had previously run well in a Sandown handicap and Daweitza can come late and take this.
Formwatch
Chicken Soup 7-2 (8-12) Prominent, soon led, headed over 4f out, ridden 3f out, one pace, 4th of 5, 6l behind Jack Sullivan (9-3) at Lingfield 1m stk (4) pol in Dec.
Southandwest (IRE) 8-1 (8-9) In touch, pushed along halfway, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 7l behind Jimmy Styles (8-12) at Ascot 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
Daaweitza 8-1 (9-0) Held up, headway 2f out, driven over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, kept on, won at Catterick 7f hcap (4) gd beating Hiccups (8-11) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Middlemarch (IRE) 50-1 (7-13) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 13th of 22, 11l behind Zaahid (8-11) at Ascot 7f hcap (2) gf.
Il Castagno (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Soon led, ridden over 2f out, headed well inside final furlong, one pace, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Skhilling Spirit (9-2) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gs.
Jamieson Gold (IRE) 12-1 (8-1) Chased leaders, outpaced 2f out, soon one pace, 6th of 14, 11l behind Markab (8-8) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Apr.
Macedon 15-2 (8-12) Chased leaders until weakened final furlong, 12th of 21, 8l behind Gunfighter (8-13) at Doncaster 7f app hcp (4) gf in Nov.
Countdown 14-1 (9-1) Behind, effort on outside over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 13, 14l behind Yes One (8-9) at Thirsk 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Baltimore Jack (IRE) 66-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, mid-division, outpaced halfway, 15th of 16, 18l behind Paris Bell (8-12) at Ayr 6f hcp 0-80 (4) hvy in Nov.
Jalamid (IRE) 12-1 (8-5) Held up in touch, switched inside and headway over 2f out, soon went 3rd and ridden, weakened final furlong, 10th of 14, 8l behind Nassar (8-5) at Great Leighs 1m hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Against The Grain 25-1 (8-11) Prominent, led over 2f out, driven and kept on gamely final furlong, held on, won at Doncaster 7f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Mar beating Cornus (8-9) by a shd, 12 ran.