The Betway Handicap (7.30) at Newcastle
on Wednesday is a competitive, albeit fairly low grade, contest, in
which it’s difficult to write off any of the 17 runners with any
degree of confidence. As usual, we’ve highlighted a few we believe
could belie generous starting prices.
The Hooded Claw returns from an
absence of 107 days and hasn’t won since May 2014, during his first
spell with Tim Easterby. However, the Dandy Man gelding has dropped
down the weights and ran his best race for some time when dropped in
0-75 company for his Tapeta debut on this course in November. On that
occasion he ran on to finish fourth, beaten two necks and a nose and,
although no better off with the second, Dark Side Dream, may be
capable of building on that effort.
Meshardal hasn’t been seen in
public since September and is another who’s on a long losing run,
but last won a 0-85 contest, off a mark of 85, in June 2015. Ruth
Carr’s 7-year-old has troubled the judge just once in 17 starts
since, but he’s ludicrously well handicapped on his best form, off
a mark of 71, and the switch to Tapeta at this late stage might just
rekindle his enthusiasm.
Nottinghamshire trainer Roy Bowring
doesn’t have many horses, but his 6-year-old Exceed And Excel
gelding Foolaad has run well on both starts over a mile on
Tapeta, without really getting home, and may be ready for a return to
the winners’ enclosure now that he drops back to 6 furlongs. John
Egan, who’s 2-4 for the yard on the all-weather, takes over from
7lb claimer Kevin Lundie, which is another encouraging sign.
Selections: Newcastle 7.30 The
Hooded Claw, Meshardal, Foolaad
Sbat.com
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