Katie Midwinter (27/03/24)
NEWCASTLE
1:18pm – Burradon Stakes (Listed Race)
ROOM SERVICE (3/1) has stamina to prove on his first try over further than 6 1/2 f, but has shown plenty of speed in testing conditions over the sprinting trips and could use his turn of foot to good effect in this contest. His sire, Kodi Bear, on a Group Two over a mile whilst his dam, Tamara Love (Tamayuz), stayed the trip and he has a half-brother with proven form over 7f. Kodi Bear has a 36% strike rate, winners to runners, on an all-weather surface, giving a positive indication to Room Service’s chances of coping with this new challenge.
Godolphin favourite Silent Age may prove tough to beat and is unexposed whilst Cuban Tiger has shown toughness and a workmanlike attitude in two starts to date, but Kevin Ryan’s colt could be capable of springing a surprise. He has good form in the book ahead of Dragon Leader, otherwise unbeaten, at Doncaster, with Group Two placed Johannes Brahms in third.
His third at York prior to that run has been franked too, with runner-up Starlust subsequently finishing third in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at the Breeders’ Cup behind Royal Ascot winners Big Evs and Valiant Force.
1:53pm – All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap (Class 2)
Spartan Army appears to be the right favourite on current form and the one to beat as he bids for a fourth successive victory. The five-year-old gelding is up a total of 11lbs since beginning his winning sequence at Lingfield last month, but that may not be enough to deter his progress and he can be competitive on a mark of 95.
Prydwen could be a big danger once again having finished within a neck of the favourite at Lingfield earlier this month, but he was disappointing behind Citizen General on his penultimate run and is difficult to trust.
Irish-raider Tyson Fury may be on a stiff enough mark off 104, but he impressed at Dundalk over 2m when last seen and had previously chased home 108-rated Elegant Man, a former second to 120-rated Rebel’s Romance in the Wild Flower Stakes. Likeable gelding Max Vega was effective over 1m4f at Wolverhampton when last seen, following a staying on second to Teumessias Fox at Kempton, but he is yet to prove his stamina over the trip.
The aforementioned CITIZEN GENERAL (12/1) is perhaps the most interesting contender, up 7lbs for a recent win at Kempton. He won with plenty in hand on that occasion, cantering turning for home, and is an improving horse that has been suited by the step up in trip. He represents an in-form Ed Dunlop yard and could be the each-way value in the field.
Duty Of Care needs to reverse form with Citizen General but is 7lbs better of at the weights and may have had some excuses when they last met. He was slowly away at Lingfield when last seen, failing to get into a favourable position and struggling to sustain his effort in the closing stages. Whilst he has every chance of returning to form, everything will have to go right for him to claim the plaudits and others are preferred on that basis.
2:25pm – All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap (Class 2)
A tricky contest to predict given there is a lack of a standout contender in the field. Fire Demon is perhaps the obvious place to start given he has shown the most promise on form so far with a second to subsequent Listed winner Dancing Gemini at Newbury last summer. He landed a maiden success at Kempton in January, and made a successful return to the track last month but disappointed at Lingfield prior when sent off as 11/8 favourite.
The short straight at Lingfield appeared to inconvenience the Dark Angel colt as he was unable to get into a promising position turning for home and had too much to do to make up ground on the leaders. The track at Kempton with the longer straight has appeared to suit better, and this straight 6f at Newcastle is a positive. Whilst he could be well-handicapped enough to win on his current mark of 87 in this field, he may benefit from a step up in trip in time and could be vulnerable to a speedier type in this contest.
Media Shooter is a brave and consistent horse who usually appears to give his all, but he has plenty to do to reverse form with Fire Demon. Sommelier was beaten by Blue Prince when the pair met at the track on New Year’s Day, but had recorded two wins prior to that defeat and is now on a mark of 98. Others could potentially be better off at the weights but there could be further progression to come from this Due Diligence gelding.
BLUE PRINCE (5/1) impressed when beating Sommelier at the track, as mentioned, and although he has suffered two defeats since, losing by a quarter-of-a-length and a head, respectively, he has been running well. He has the course-and-distance form and has an electric turn of foot which may give him the advantage over his rivals.
3:00pm – Fillies’ And Mares’ Championships Handicap (Class 2)
A Listed winner at Wolverhampton when last seen, Nine Tenths had previously finished second to the in-form Dear My Friend at Lingfield and a mark of 100 could prove lenient. Jack Enright claims 7lbs aboard William Haggas’ filly, easing her burden off top-weight, and she appears the one to beat.
By Kodiac, she cost 300,000gns as a yearling and despite being beaten by Shades Of Summer in January, giving 20lbs away to the winner, there is only 5lbs between them here, with the claim included, giving Nine Tenths the edge. Shades Of Summer, despite being up a total of 11lbs since beginning her winning sequence, now bidding for a fourth successive win is in-form and is worthy of respect however.
Cloud Cover won comfortably enough on her penultimate start at Kempton and her win can be upgraded given she was keen early on and made an awkward start. She was put up 7lbs in reappearance at Lingfield but, although the race developed nicely for her, she was unable to sustain an effort having appeared to be travelling well, and she will need to bounce back. Wild Side must reverse form with the two fillies at the head of the market but is much better off in the weights with Shades Of Summer this time around and could hold each-way claims.
An Irish-raider holding leading each-way claims is HODD’S GIRL (18/1) for Adrian McGuinness who saddled fifteen runners on the Flat in Britain last year, with nine finishing among the first four including two winners. She has form behind 108-rated White Moonlight and 105-rated Queen Aminatu when third in a Listed race at Chelmsford last season, finishing ahead of Heredia who subsequently won the Group Three Atalanta Stakes and placed in a Group One. With Adam Caffrey claiming 3lbs aboard the seven-year-old mare, she could be well treated at the weights.
3:35pm – All-Weather Sprint Handicap (Class 2)
Recent renewals of the race suggest it’s worth looking towards the top of the market, The biggest price winner in the last few years has been 10/1. The others have all been single figures in the past 10 years bar Alben Star in 2014 who was 25/1.
That bodes well for Cover Up who, despite taking a big hike in the weights, has plenty in his favour. Now on a mark of 101, the well-related gelding is out of a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup winner Mischief Magic and is a progressive type, potentially still on a handy mark. His only disappointing efforts bar his debut run have come on ground with soft in the description, and this surface has appeared to suit in recent runs.
Despite there being plenty to like about the favourite, there is plenty of each-way value in the field. JUAN LES PINS (7/1) is on a workable mark over his optimum trip of 6f. A capable horse on his day, he has had two prep runs, including over 5f behind Diligent Harry, who contends the Group One sprint at Meydan on Saturday. He has form in and around quality sprinters including the likes of Annaf and Commanche Falls, so a mark of 105 appears lenient.
SUMMERGHAND (12/1) (second choice) is another to consider despite being a ten-year-old. He is 12lbs lower than when a three-length seventh in the race last year, finishing strongly but left with too much to do, and can go well again. THE X O (40/1) (each-way) placed in a Group One at odds of 125/1 last year and can outrun his likely huge odds. He was 80/1 when last seen, only a length-and-three-quarters behind Chipstead at Lingfield, having been forced to check wide to gain a more prominent position, running well but failing to hold on to finish among the places. The four-year-old colt is a dark horse in this field.
4:10pm – All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap (Class 2)
It’s hard to know quite how good Elegant Man is. A rating of 108 appears high enough, and he has to give plenty of weight away, but he looks an exciting prospect and his second to Rebel’s Romance in the Listed Wild Flower Stakes is noteworthy form. Teumessias Fox drops back in trip having stayed on strongly to win over 1m4f at Kempton when last seen. The course-and-distance winner should have plenty of speed to be competitive however and could make the frame.
Penzance has been in excellent form over the winter and now bids for a fifth successive victory. The all-weather specialist is up a total of 25lb since winning at Chelmsford in December and will have to prove himself on a career-high mark of 98.
The one to beat in the field is Oh So Grand, a course-and-distance winner who is up 8lbs for her win at Lingfield in January. She was very impressive on that occasion and is attempting a four-timer in the hands of Jack Mitchell, potentially still ahead of the handicapped on a mark of 97.
From an each-way perspective eight-year-old veteran SIR BUSKER (20/1) is worthy of consideration. He is on a handy mark of 102 and is effective over this trip. The main concern is the tactics that are usually adopted with him, being dropped in at the rear of the field and coming late with a run, sometimes after the bird has flown.
He has plenty of class however, and was only two-lengths behind Enemy and now 111-rated subsequent Group Three winner Military Order in the Winter Trial Derby at Southwell, over a trip of 1m3f that slightly tests his stamina. If he is in similar form he can play his part at a lucrative price.
4:40pm – All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap (Class 2)
Course-and-distance winner DEAR MY FRIEND (10/3) has been in electric form on the all-weather over the winter following a wind operation and having been gelded. A runner in the Epsom Derby, he struggled to make an impression and finished down the field but he had previously shown a good level of ability including when third in a Listed Deauville contest behind subsequent Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Victoria Road and four-time Group One winner Blue Rose Cen. He possesses plenty of ability and a 16lb total rise since his success on the first day of the year shouldn’t hamper his chances.
Final Voyage and Kingdom Come are each-way alternatives, the latter preferred, but both must improve to beat the favourite.
LINGFIELD
2:40pm – All-Weather Vase Mile Handicap (Class 3)
A recent acquisition for Adrian McGuinness in Ireland, SHOOT TO KILL is no stranger to the English all-weather tracks and has often sprung a surprise at a big price. A winner at 40/1 and 12/1 last season, he is 4lbs above his last winning mark but has 3lb claimer Cian MacRedmond aboard easing his burden. Consistent and reliable, he is overpriced at 16/1 and can make the frame.
3:50pm – All-Weather Vase Sprint Handicap (Class 3)
DREAM TODAY (11/1) and ROUSING ENCORE (25/1) (second choice) are both worthy of note in this 6f contest. The former has recorded two wins at Dundalk over the winter period and can pose a threat on his return to England whilst the latter is on his last winning mark of 85 but must bounce back from two below par efforts.
NAP – Dear My Friend 10/3 (4:40 Newcastle)
NB – Shoot To Kill 16/1 (2:40 Lingfield)
Long Shot – The X O 40/1 (3:35 Newcastle)
* prices and runners all correct at the time of publication
Cover photo by Gene Devine on Unsplash.
THE CONDITIONAL 