Racecards
17:05 Newcastle
David And Michael Mitchell Memorial Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £5,900 added
- Form 53-3263
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer T J FitzGerald
- Jockey P Whelan
raced keenly in touch, went 2nd 6 out, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, lost 2nd near finish
- Form 3PPP21
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey G Lee
in touch, led 3rd to 6th, led again 9th, made rest, held on gamely
- Form 052U4P
- Age 13
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer Mrs S J Smith
- Jockey D O'Meara
chased leaders, lost place 10th, rallied 12th, ridden and weakened 4 out
- Form P6142P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer T Butt
- Jockey B P Harding
led to 3rd, led again 6th, headed 9th, weakened 5 out, tailed off
- Form 156457
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey P Aspell
in touch,headway 9th, mistake next, not fluent and outpaced 13th, rallied 3 out, ridden and kept on to go 2nd near finish
Verdict
Trisons Star has been raised 9lbs for his all the way success here on testing ground earlier this month and, with form on a faster surface, Ferdy Murphy's gelding is taken to follow up with the main dangers looking to be Auntie Kathleen and Moment of Madness. The last mentioned is a capable performer but may just be a shade high in the weights so may be best watched. The Nicky Richards-trained Cash Bonanza ran better last time but is unproven on this ground so is hard to back with confidence, while Skenfrith is hard to back having been pulled up in his last four starts. Sue Smith's Aegean has slipped to a fair mark but has given little sign of encouragement of late and of more threat may be recent Haydock winner Auntie Kathleen, although she may prefer a softer surface. The ground should not be a problem for Trisons Star though and he gets the vote.
Formwatch
Moment of Madness (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Held up in rear, improved 7th, chased winner 13th, 10 lengths down, weakened 2 out, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 9, 31l behind Its Crucial (10-13) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Trisons Star (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 2nd, made rest, clear last, stayed on well flat, won at Newcastle 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) hvy beating Blackergreen (10-10) by 17l, 6 ran.
Aegean 25-1 (10-1) With leaders, blundered 8th, weakened 17th, beaten when pulled up 5 out in race won by Bang And Blame (10-6) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 14 ran.
Lethem Present (IRE) 7-1 (9-13) In touch, weakened 10th, tailed off when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Almire Du Lia (10-12) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft, 8 ran.
Tastes Like More (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway approaching 4th, ridden and weakened approaching 8th, tailed off, 7th of 15, well behind Iwillrememberyou (10-7) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy in Feb.
Skenfrith 11-2 (11-0) In touch, ridden and led 12th until blundered and headed next, soon weakened and pulled up 4 out in race won by Morgan Be (11-9) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy, 6 ran.
Cash Bonanza (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, chased leaders 5 out, left 14 lengths down in 2nd 2 out, one pace, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Almire Du Lia (10-12) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Auntie Kathleen 20-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 6th, left in lead last, all out, won at Haydock 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb beating Wee Anthony (11-6) by 5l, 12 ran.