So Many Roads at Newcastle Thursday

Newcastle 23rd November : 1.15 pm 2m 7½f 0-105 handicap hurdle (Class 5)

So Many Roads (Craig Nichol) steps up to 3 miles and carries top weight of 12st here, in what will almost certainly be very testing ground. He showed up well in a 19 runner Carlisle handicap last month when finishing 6th, and we hope he can take a step forward in this race.

A couple of consistent hurdlers line up in the 10 runner field in the shape of Dequall and Perculator. Dequall, who acts on heavy, ran well last time when 3rd at Kelso (beaten 4 lengths) after an 18 month lay off and a return to somewhere around his best would put him bang in the mix.
Although Perculator hasn't run that many races over hurdles, they've all been around the same level of form. He has been dropping down the handicap rating  so one day he'll find the right race.

Lacey's handicap debutant Tune In A Box is bred to be better than his bare form would suggest. Up in trip. A market move may provide the best clue to his chances.
Velasco was a last time out winner over this trip but his best recent outings for Susan Corbett have been on a sound surface. He did run well on heavy ground for a previous trainer, so......
Largy Train is another who showed promising form (this time in a bumper) for a previous trainer and his best run for Henry Hogarth was a 3rd place last month at Carlisle. Up in trip for his handicap debut.
At the foot of the handicap is another winner last time - Lisa Harrison's Solway Princess won a couple of weeks ago at Hexham following a wind op. She'll be staying on at the finish.

Best of luck to Craig and connections.

So Many Roads (Callum)