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16:10 Newcastle

Friday 29 March 2024

All13:1813:5314:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

BetUK All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 2m 10.71s

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(14)

Elegant Man⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: David Egan| T: A Murray| OR: 108

11/4

Low-mileage 4-y-o who is bred to be smart and took another step forward to make it 2 wins from 3 starts in 7-runner minor event (4/7) at Dundalk (10.7f) 63 days ago, impressive despite still looking green. Highly likely there's more to come and respected on handicap debut.

Form: 12-1

(10)

Hooking^p1⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: Aurelien Lemaitre| T: P Decouz| OR: 106| D

15/2

Smart French performer who has enhanced his excellent strike rate at Cagnes-Sur-Mer in recent months, registering back-to-back victories at listed level. Return to this longer trip will hold no fears with cheekpieces again fitted.

Form: 5242-11

(5)

Base Note^v²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Harry Burns⁽³⁾| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 105| D

33/1

Latest win at Chelmsford (10f) in November. 8/1, creditable 3¼ lengths seventh of 12 to Penzance in handicap at Lingfield (10f, AW) 28 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Still, may find a few too good again here.

Form: 2132-57

(4)

Claymore³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: D McMonagle| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 105| D

33/1

Useful horse who ran respectably when fourth of 6 to Military Order in Winter Derby at Southwell (11.1f, 25/1) 34 days ago, albeit better placed than most. Others make more appeal making handicap debut.

Form: 6752-64

(6)

Teumessias Fox⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 105| CD

7/2

C&D winner. Career best when winning 9-runner handicap at Kempton (12f, 4/1) 62 days ago, quicken clear impressively. Remains pretty low-mileage on artificial surfaces and manner of latest success suggests he could do better again on AW.

Form: 4455-51

(13)

Blanchland⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Rossa Ryan| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 105| C

17/2

Smart colt who is 2-2 here, latterly when landing 12.5f handicap in October. Respectable efforts since, 1-length third of 8 to Tyrrhenian Sea in listed race at Lingfield (10f, AW) 89 days ago, very much having run of race. Not discounted for all the trip may be on the short side for him now.

Form: 861443-

(7)

Freescape²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: L T McAteer| T: D Marnane| OR: 102

100/1

Latest win at Dundalk (10.7f) in December. 9/2, respectable second of 6 in minor event back at that venue (1m) 21 days ago. Back up in trip now and he may find a few too good from this mark.

Form: 381-332

(12)

Sir Busker^v²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: W J Knight| OR: 102| C| D

16/1

Smart performer who is winless since landing Group 2 York Stakes in 2022. Running respectably on AW in recent months though, sixth of 11 in Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 20 days ago, running on. Should give another good account.

Form: 972-346

(11)

Diderot^h²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Rob Hornby| T: J Ferguson| OR: 100| D

50/1

Latest win at Chelmsford City in December. 12/1, creditable 2¾ lengths fifth of 12 to Penzance in handicap at Lingfield (10f, AW) 28 days ago, no extra final 100 yds. A little more needed from this career-high mark on that evidence.

Form: 1091-35

(9)

Storm Catcher⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: David Probert| T: S Pearce| OR: 99| CD

9/1

Likeable sort who was edged out on the post by Penzance over C&D on his penultimate start and deservedly back to winning ways when landing 6-runner handicap at Wolverhampton (9.5f) 55 days ago. Looks sure to give another good account nudged up 2 lb.

Form: 0412-21

(3)

Penzance²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 98| CD

11/2

4-y-o who has progressed at a rate of knots on AW, supplementing his C&D success on New Year's Day with an authoritative victory at Lingfield (10f) 4 weeks ago. 6 lb rise looks fair on that evidence and he looks a big player in bid to land the 5-timer.

Form: 9411-11

(8)

Star Harbour^v²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Adam Caffrey⁽³⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 97| D

40/1

Latest win at Bellewstown in September and best since the turn of the year when second of 9 in handicap at Dundalk (12f, 11/1) 21 days ago. May find some less exposed rivals too good back down in trip, however.

Form: 120-462

(1)

Oh So Grand⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: J Mitchell| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 97| CD

11/1

Upwardly mobile filly who resumed winning ways over C&D in October and won both subsequent starts, including Winter Oaks handicap in January, showing a most impressive turn of foot. Unlikely she's reached her limit on that evidence and high on shortlist.

Form: 13211-1

(2)

Onesmoothoperator¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 93| CD

40/1

Found the switch to this venue firmly in his favour when landing November Handicap and bee in good order of late, conceding first run but keeping on well for second at Southwell (12f) 3 weeks ago. Return to this shorter trip may not be ideal in what is an ultra-competitive affair, though.

Form: 513-642

Forecasts

Elegant Man (11/4), Teumessias Fox (7/2), Penzance (11/2), Hooking (15/2), Blanchland (17/2), Storm Catcher (9/1), Oh So Grand (11/1), Sir Busker (16/1), Claymore (33/1), Base Note (33/1), Star Harbour (40/1), Onesmoothoperator (40/1), Diderot (50/1), Freescape (100/1)

A smashing contest with a host of improving/in-form sorts in opposition with the percentage call in favour of PENZANCE. The 4-y-o has progressed at a rate of knots since joining Mick Appleby and there's highly likely even more to come judged on his authoritative success at Lingfield 4 weeks ago. Dangers aplenty are headed up by another impressive sort in the shape of Oh So Grand, To Catch A Thief and Elegant Man. Storm Catcher is also respected of the older brigade.