This is an open 5 furlong dash, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.
IN SUMMARY: Joseph Tuite’s DONTFORGETTOCALL is slipping down the weights and he can take this. He arrives here fresh and off a 4lb lower mark and he can take advantage in this grade with Oisin Murphy taking the ride. Little Miss Daisy should be a tough opponent to crack whilst the recent placed effort of Prazeres should be enough to see him get competitive here.
1 PRAZERES – Has been competitive in two starts for his new trainer over 6 furlongs at Wolverhampton. The drop back in trip is a slight doubt having shown his best form over 6 furlongs but he’s obviously got some ability and this mark looks workable. He’s 5lbs lower for that 2 length third last time out and he should enter calculations here with a drop in grade.
2 LITTLE MISS DAISY – Trainer hasn’t been in great form of late but he’s got a nice filly here who arrives here off a win. She beat Juan Horsepower by 1 1/4 lengths which on the face of it looks decent enough form with the second that day going on to win subsequently. She drops in grade here and 5 furlongs should be perfect. Lewis Edmunds claims a valuable 5lbs and she should be a big threat here.
3 SUWAAN – Showed a little promise last season on the turf in Ireland but was sold on for 8,000GNS at the end of the season. He’s been gelded since and it’ll be interesting to see how he fares on handicap debut on a mark of 65. He should improve for today’s run and may be one to follow in handicaps back on the turf for this yard.
4 DONTFORGETTOCALL – A maiden after 5 starts but there has been a bit of money around for him on a few occasions and there’s probably more to come from this Foxwedge gelding. He returns here fresh off a 140-day break and he’s dropped 4lbs which leaves him on what should be a decent mark. The booking of Oisin Murphy catches the eye (ridden him in three maidens to date) and he’s of interest at a decent price. Trainer has one winner from 2 runners here.
5 OCEAN PRINCESS – Handicap debut today off 64 which should be workable for this Acclamation filly. It’s interesting she’s dropped back in trip having shaped with some promise over 6 furlongs in a couple of decent enough maidens and she’ll be of interest here. Any market support would be very significant and her trainer has been in relatively decent form of late. Respected.
6 BILLY’S BOOTS – Trainer has been in really poor form of late although his runner here has been in okay form. He finished second on his stable debut in a similar grade to this which was his first bit of decent form since winning a seller back in June of last year. Probably better on turf and best watched here although the 5 furlong trip looks right for him.
7 EMERALD SECRET – Maiden after 6 starts although she looks to be getting better with more racing. She was a 4 length third on her final start of last season off a pound higher and she should be capable of striking in this grade at some point this season. She wears cheekpieces on her seasonal return and she’s avoided here on her first run on the All-Weather.
8 MAJESTIC STONE – Quickly moved on following two runs for Robert Cowell and he was beaten out of sight over 7 furlongs at Wolverhampton last time out. That was a hotter race than this and he makes his handicap debut off a relatively low mark of 54. Hard to fancy this one on recent form but he should do better now in the handicapping division.
9 SLAVE TO FREEDOM – Another making her handicap debut today and she was comfortably beaten at big prices on the turf and All-Weather last season. She drops back in trip to 5 furlongs today off a low mark and it would be a surprise to see her strike on the first time of asking this season. Trainer has been in good recent form but is without a winner from 33 runners here at Newcastle.
10 VIOLET MIST – Well-beaten in three maidens and showed a little more on return to action earlier this month in a Class 5 maiden. She makes her handicap debut today off a very low mark of 51 (though she is 1lb out of the handicap) and her trainer’s poor record (4% strike rate here) doesn’t inspire too much confidence today. Another that should do better now handicapping but tough to fancy today.
11 FLYING HOPE – Maiden after 11 starts and she’s been inconsistent at this level to date. She ran a good race over C&D at the beginning of February but she didn’t follow that up off 2lbs higher and she’s up another pound in this which makes her an unattractive prospect. Jockey booking is decent but she’s exposed at this level and tough to fancy (2lbs out of the handicap).
12 DULCINA – Trainer’s first runner here and she went close at Kempton two days ago when beaten 1/2 a length in a similar grade to this. She remains on the same mark and there was plenty of money about for her that day (sent off 3/1 joint-favourite) and she should go close here off that same mark. She is 4lbs wrong at the weights though which will make life tougher.