Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Newcastle and Newmarket on Saturday. View selections below.
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FLYMETOTHESTARS (3.30) looks a worthy favourite to land the Stobart Rail Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.
Sir Mark Prescott’s gelding, a dual course winner, has drawn stall eight, which is a bonus as the first bend looms quickly. Flymetothestars handed out a comprehensive defeat to Endless Acres over course and distance on his comeback last month and the runner-up gave the form a very solid look by running second to Thomas Hobson in last week’s Ascot Stakes.
Seamour’s chance is pretty obvious and local trainer Brian Ellison will surely one day fulfil his dream of scooping the Pitmen’s Derby. Seamour appeared home and hosed 12 months ago when kicking clear but was cut down by Godolphin’s Antiquarian. He made the perfect return at York when third to classy Dal Harraild and is primed for another big effort.
The boys in blue are represented this time by the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained pair Natural Scenery and Good Run. Preference is for Natural Scenery, a comfortable course and distance victor here in February when beating London Prize.
Lord George is the dark horse over this stamina test, having run really well over 1m 4f, and his third to Appeared at Ascot in May was a another fine effort.
GRACELAND (3.00) is fancied to win the Betfred Northumberland Vase, a consolation race for the feature event.
Michael Bell’s mare has run well here in the past, running third to Pecking Order over 1m 4f last July, but she has excelled since being stepped up to two miles.
Graceland kicked off the season with a victory at Ascot in May and she chased home Injam at York’s May meeting. I’m prepared to put a line through her slightly disappointing fourth to Langlauf over 1m 6f at Chelmsford City as it turned into a tactical affair and Graceland refused to settle properly.
London Prize looks a big danger along with consistent Kensington Star, but Graceland makes plenty of each-way appeal trading around the 13-2 mark.
Richard Fahey is doubly represented in the Group 3 Betfred TV Chipchase Stakes, with DON’T TOUCH (2.25) getting the nod over Kimberella.
Don’t Touch showed plenty of toe to serve it up to The Tin Man in the Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot in October, and made a fine return to action at Leopardstown 16 days ago when finishing runner-up in a Group 3 over seven furlongs. The five-year-old has winning form at
Wolverhampton so the all-weather surface shouldn’t be a concern, although stall one on the far side isn’t ideal.
Kimberella is drawn on the opposite side of the track and ran his usual honest race last time in the Scottish Sprint at Musselburgh when finishing well into third. Tony Hamilton always rides Don’t Touch, so Paul Hanagan is a good jockey for Kimberella.
LAC LEMON (4.05) runs this track well, boasting form figures of 2-1-2-3 from four runs in 2017.
Pauline Robson’s six-year-old is back on the same mark as when denied a short head by Codeshare back in March and soft ground may have contributed to a couple of lacklustre recent displays at Carlisle and York.
At Newmarket, BRECON ROCK (3.15) can make it back-to-back successes in the Betway Criterion Stakes.
David Simcock’s gelding is at his best with some ease underfoot and ran a cracker in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury when third to Ribchester.
Breton Rock was a beaten favourite when a close-up fifth to Absolutely So at Haydock but can bounce back to winning ways in this lesser grade.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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