Racecards
13:20 Newcastle
Tote Bookmakers Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class B)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Form 441
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, hit next, weakened 2 out
Salhood
14- Form 102113
- Age 5
- Weight 11-11
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey R Garritty
led, headed 3 out, stayed on well under pressure to lead again last, ridden and kept on flat
- Form 35-1123
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer Jedd O'Keeffe
- Jockey B P Harding
tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, ridden next, rallied under pressure approaching 2 out, kept on one pace flat
- Form 162
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
in touch, led 3 out, ridden and headed last, no extra
- Form 311001
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
held up in rear, mistake 4 out, behind when blundered last
- Form 412420
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Jefferson
- Jockey G Lee
mid-division, badly hampered 4th, pulled up before next
- Form 553144
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
chased leaders, driven 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace 2 out
- Form F0140
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey C O'Dwyer
held up mid-division when fell 4th
- Form 4042
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
held up, ridden and outpaced 4 out, weakened next
- Form 234
- Age 4
- Weight 10-6
mid-division, headway 4 out, soon ridden, weakened from 2 out
- Form 5230
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
tracked leaders, headway 4 out, outpaced next, hung left and no impression from 2 out
- Form 0060
- Age 5
- Weight 10-4
- Trainer R C Guest
- Jockey C McCormack
held up towards rear, outpaced 3 out, no chance when mistake next
- Form 30/1-360
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Trainer Mrs M Reveley
- Jockey R McGrath
held up, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, soon ridden, kept on under pressure flat
- Form 2-02440
- Age 5
- Weight 10-3
- Trainer B Rothwell
- Jockey A Ross
towards rear, steady after 4 out, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, weakened flat
- Form 4-UP202
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer P Beaumont
- Jockey D O'Meara
raced keenly, soon tracked leader, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
- Form F5535
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
raced keenly, held up in rear hit 4 out, never dangerous
In depth
Verdict
Uptown Lad is a tentative choice in the opening race on the card, with Spring Pursuit, Ghost Rider and Beat The Heat just three dangerous rivals. Pinning down the winner here is no easy task, but Uptown Lad gets the vote after returning to form at Kelso 16 days ago. He ploughed through the heavy ground that day, and although drying conditions would be against him, Bob Johnson's gelding will be galloping on better than most in the straight. Ghost Rider has his first outing in handicap company and is not badly treated judged on his efforts behind decent opposition so far. Spring Pursuit did not impress with his jumping when scoring at Warwick but has been tried over further since, and drops back to a more suitable trip here. He may be worth considering for a place though along with Beat The Heat who bids to get the losses back after his Boxing Day defeat at Ayr. Given a break since, he lines up fresh but has it to do off his current mark. My Last Bean and Salhood have their fair share of weight but have winning form and are others to add to the equation, but in a tricky start to proceedings, we return to Uptown Lad as our idea of the winner.