'He would have won' - Modular Magic out for compensation in feature sprint

Huge Daily Boosts Only At BetUK Handicap | 5f | 4yo+ | SKY

The 3lb well-in Modular Magic is a fairly warm favourite for this handicap, which is understandable considering he was denied a clear run at the track eight days ago but still only failed by a short head to catch Kraken Power.

With the winner going in again under a 5lb penalty the following day, Modular Magic certainly looks good off the same mark, but this is far from a gimme as there are plenty of others who arrive in decent nick.

The training partnership of David and Nicola Barron muddy the waters by adding Bert Kibbler as back-up to the favourite, and while he hasn't run for a year, he comes here on a hat-trick.

Bert Kibbler was a well-backed and comfortable scorer back in January 2022 and the runner-up has won three times since, and remains on a 7lb higher mark, so this five-year-old could have more to offer.

Bellagio Man hasn't been out of the first three in seven starts since October, and while he was undone by his usual slow start when dropped to the minimum trip at Wolverhampton last time, that will be less of a hindrance on this straight track.

Archie Watson has a 26 per cent strike-rate in the last five years at Newcastle and saddles Dusky Prince, who was one place behind Bellagio Man at Wolverhampton, and while he had more of the run of the race, he now gets the talented and very much in-form Taylor Fisher to reduce his burden by 5lb.

Irish raider Gerard O'Leary has had one winner from two runners at the track. He saddles Maritime Rules, who has run with credit on his last two starts at Dundalk since joining from Richard Hannon, for whom he won at Chelmsford as a juvenile. He is, however, also engaged in the 6.30 at Dundalk.
Race analysis by Paul Kealy

What they say

Kevin Frost, trainer of Papa Don’t Preach
He may still be a couple of pounds high in the handicap and has had trouble at the start, but if he flies the gates he could take some catching as he’s all about speed.

Antony Brittain, trainer of Bellagio Man
The stiff five furlongs at Newcastle should suit him better than the sharp five at Wolverhampton last time, where he was slowly away and ran on late. He’s ultra consistent and likes to drop in, so his draw in stall one is no issue.

Steve Brown, assistant to Julie Camacho, trainer of Army Of India
We were disappointed when he was beaten the last time he ran at this track but the winner went onto win his next two, so it wasn’t bad form on reflection. You can forget his last run at Southwell as he came out of the stalls with his blind still on.

David Barron, joint-trainer of Bert Kibbler and Modular Magic
Bert Kibbler had an injury after the second of his two wins last year and will come on for the run. Modular Magic was arguably a bit unlucky when second there last time and if things had dropped differently he would have won. Hopefully both horses are in the money.
Reporting from David Milnes

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