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NEWCASTLE has its biggest race day of the year with the stamina sapping Northumberland Plate (3.10) the big betting race of the day over the galloping two-mile trip.
I am not sure that there is a great deal of strength in depth in this year’s renewal so if top-weight Tashkhan retains all of his old ability then he surely has to be a player even off a mark of high ceiling of 111, although the 16-box draw will have to be safely negotiated early on by Ben Robinson.
Sir Mark Prescott has his team in good form following his win in the two-and-a-half-mile Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting last week, and his TROOPER BISDEE looks the one to be on here from a fair draw providing the field go a nice even gallop. Raised just the 5lbs for winning over two furlongs further at Pontefract last week, the unexposed four-year-old has the typical Prescott profile of a rapidly improving stayer and this will have been the plan for a while.
Nothing will be staying on as strongly as his charge up the long home straight and I fancy him to take care of the likes of Evaluation and the very lightly raced outsider, Too Friendly, trained by James Owen.
The Plate Consolation sadly hasn’t filled out to its maximum field size which is a big surprise with some £75,000 up for grabs, but this offers a massive opportunity to BELGOPRINCE (2.35) to land a nice prize. The selection has been running well over hurdles this winter/spring and following a 62-day break warmed up nicely for this with a cracking staying on second of 12 in a Sligo handicap hurdle a fortnight ago.
He promises to be suited by this galloping two miles and may prove well enough handicapped in a moderate renewal ahead of the likes of The Predictor, and interesting outsider Green Team.
The Group Three Chipchase Stakes at 2.04 looks a fair renewal and outside likely favourite Kinross there looks to be several interesting each-way plays, with the seven-year-old returning to the track for the first time in some 252 days.
I think Spycatcher is bound to go well when you glance at his recent back form after being just touched off by a neck in this race 12 months ago, and he runs from the same box here in four. But I think there is even bigger value to be had with the Irish raider BALLYMOUNT BOY at around the 16/1 mark.
The sole three-year-old in the contest, his juvenile back form is strong having finished a length second to Vandeek in the Group Two Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and then landing the Listed Prospect Stakes at Doncaster. The selection does have a tendency to pull hard in his races, but if his run in the Greenham Stakes is not an indicator of him having trained on, and if he relaxes to boot then the return to six furlongs looks spot on for the son of Camacho.
Of the other races on the Gosforth Park card, I fancy a huge run from KING’S LYNN in the opening class two sprint handicap at 1.35. Slightly disappointing on several starts this season, the handicapper is beginning to relent and he is now set to run off a career low mark of 92. Stall 11 should also be a huge help for him and he gets the nod over Wiltshire. The last named was a big disappointment at Newbury last time out after winning at the Berkshire track on his four-year-old debut, and he may well be worth a win saver behind the selection.
There is a cracking card at Chester where the anticipated showers should just about take the sting out of the ground. That should ensure a lovely surface, and with that in mind I fancy a huge run from the three-year-old FRANKELIAN. This beautifully bred filly is set to step up to a mile and a half for the first time in her four race career, and judged on her runs at Sandown as a two-year-old and on her three-year-old debut at Salisbury, she should relish the extra yardage. The form of that mile-and-a-quarter race has yet to be tested, but I think it could turn out to be quite useful.
Al Shabab Storm looks sure to be winning sooner rather than later, but the seven-furlong handicap at 3.35 may not be the race. He could well find the concession of 4lbs to ZIGGY’S CONDOR too hot to handle. The selection went out like a light last time out at York after a previously promising run at the Knavesmire. I think that the son of Havana Grey is worth another chance here, and there should be plenty more left in the locker on only his sixth career start.
The two-mile handicap at 4.10 looks another tight-knit event even though only eight are set to go to post. African Star is becoming nicely handicapped and any market support for him should be noted, but I think a win bet on CLAN CHIEFTAIN should suffice.
The son of Gleneagles is set to step up to two miles for the very first time in his career and I think he is sure to relish it. The likes of Chester Plate seventh and recent 12 furlong winner here Dreams Adozen and bottom weight Dovena are also respected in a tight contest.
Finally, on the Doncaster card have a second look at ANOTHER INVESTMENT in the opener at 5.50. With Alex Jary taking a handy 5lbs off his back the selection is a pound lower than for his last win, and a fast run six at this galloping venue should prove right up his street.
