Nicky Richards‘ string are always worth a second glance at Newcastle and Looking Well (2.10) can get his career back on track after a very disappointing effort at Kelson when last seen back in November. A Bumper winner at Perth on debut last April the selection drops down in trip this afternoon and wouldn’t have to improve greatly on his first start over timber, when third at Ayr, to take a hand today.
James Reveley takes over on Have You Had Yours (2.40) in the four-runner handicap chase and the jockey might try and make all on the 9-y-old who found his form this time last year. Local trainer Jane Walton looks to have found an ideal opportunity although the selection is 8lbs higher than his last winning mark.
Northern Acres doesn’t know how to run a bad race and may have been given too much to do when third over C&D earlier in the month. That said he is still 3lbs higher than his last winning mark and I hope the ground dries out enough for Redkalani (3.10) who begins his life in handicaps off what looks a decent mark on some of his Bumper form. He might be worth an each way interest in an 18-runner contest.
The feature handicap chase is a cracker and Montoya’s Son and De Vous A Moi are both in a rich vein of form but the form of And The Man’s (3.40) second to Oscar Rock on his penultimate start is top class form given how easily the latter won at Kelso last week. The blinkers he wore on that occasion didn’t have the desired effect last time but I am prepared to put it down as a bad day at the office. Make no mistake this is a fabulous race and let’s hope there’s a big crowd at Gosforth Park.
The handicap hurdle is another top class affair; Lightening Rod was out of his depth at Cheltenham last time but this is more his grade and he must have every chance. If the market speaks in his favour I will be having a saver on Pearl Castle with Dean Pratt excellent value for his 7lbs, but Avidity (4.15) ran a cracker against a very well treated rival over C&D earlier in the month and can race off the same mark this afternoon.
What A Dream (4.50) ran well in defeat when second over C&D at the last meeting and, although the form has been let down when the winner Apache Pilot was beaten earlier in the week, he can go one better in another very competitive heat.
The booking of Nico De Boinville (5.25) for Purple Harry is eye-catching in the finale. The grey has been knocking on the door of late finishing 4th, 3rd and 2nd in his last three starts; let’s hope he can break his maiden from a 4lbs higher mark than when runner up at Hexham last time when he was stepping up to 3m for the first time.
The jockey has never ridden at Newcastle before but he showed when winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Coneygree earlier in the month that he is a top class pilot and he looks sure to go close.
The ground is forecast to be good to soft for today’s card at Wetherby and I am going to give Vinny Gambini (3.20) a last chance with the excellent Tom Scudamore taking over on Rose Dobbin’s eight-year-old for the first time. The stable haven’t exactly been firing in the winners of late but they haven’t been running badly either and the positive jockey booking suggests a big run is expected.
