NEWCASTLE
SATURDAY
3-15 BETFRED WORLD CUP DOUBLE DELIGHT HANDICAP – 7 FURLONGS
My Freedom returned from Meydan last season to win at this meeting and can do so again this year. He clearly goes well fresh and his last two wins have come when he has been partnered by Silvestre De Sousa. He is rated some eight pounds ahead of his nearest rival and connections will be expecting a decent run.
Almargo slips in here at the bottom of the weights and gets all of the allowances because of his age. He has not been disgraced in more competitive races at York and Royal Ascot and if allowed to dominate from the outset, he could prove hard to peg back and a very legitimate threat. Victoire De Lyphar and Dream Walker are consistent but look to be firmly in the hands of the handicapper at present whilst Farlow and Royal Rascal have ultimately proved disappointing this season. My Freedom seems to save his best performances for this track and he can get right in the mix this afternoon.
3-50 JOHN SMITH’S NORTHUMBERLAND PLATE – 2 MILES 19 YDS
Angel Gabrial looks to have a lot in his favour this afternoon as he bids to give Richard Fahey a big race double in the space of a week. He was unfortunate to bump into an in form Ryan Moore on board Suegioo at Chester last time but he can turn the tables on that old rival today. Angel Gabrial looks to have landed a plum draw in stall one and he has plenty of form on a good to firm surface. Following his win on Baccarat last week, George Chaloner has once again been engaged by Richard Fahey this afternoon. The talented apprentice is able to take three pounds off the selection and in a race as competitive as this, it could prove crucial.
Dark Crusader has been running over trips that have been far too short and he is now raised back up in distance. He is without a win since last summer, but Tony Martin would not be bringing him here just to take in the oxygen. He must have shown something at home to merit an entry and he has to be respected. Suegioo is now racing off a career high mark and his trainer Marco Botti remains in excellent form. The five year old is laden with stamina and if a little rain were to arrive, his chances would markedly increase. Angel Gabrial is a model of consistency and should relish this return to two miles. He should be capable of making his presence felt in this marathon staying event.
NEWMARKET
3-30 BET365 CRITERION STAKES (GROUP 3) – 7 FURLONGS
Top Notch Tonto may have finished last of three runners at Sandown on his latest outing but he was far from disgraced. He will appreciate this return to a better surface as well as a return to a track where has gone very well in the past. He is proven over this seven furlong trip and with James Doyle booked to ride this afternoon he should be capable of going close. He already has the beating of several of these rivals including Gregorian, Garswood and Tawhid and there is no obvious reason as to why they should reverse that form.
Gabriel’s Lad bids to make a swift transition between handicaps and Group level. The way he won his latest race at Ascot suggests that the gap may not be as much as first thought and he could prove the biggest threat to the selection. He won’t mind the ground and he too has a good record at this track. Indignant returned to the winner’s enclosure at Salisbury last time following a spell in the wilderness. He will need to improve again but stable-mate Producer franked the form of that last run with a decent second at Royal Ascot and he too can make the frame. Brian Ellison is expecting big things from Top Notch Tonto this season and he ought to prove difficult to beat.
WINDSOR
3-40 UNIBET.CO.UK MIDSUMMER STAKES (LISTED) – 1 MILE 67 YDS
Short Squeeze was fancied by many to run well on his seasonal reappearance at Royal Ascot just ten days ago but he clearly needed the run. He was beaten some fifteen lengths by Field Of Dream and others in the Britannia Handicap, but he should do much better this afternoon. Hugo Palmer and Jimmy Fortune both have decent individual strike rates at Windsor and it is of note that they team up with this progressive four year old this afternoon.
Ocean Tempest ran in the same race as the selection last time and he too ought to prove much better on a track that he loves. He has won on his last two visits to Windsor and despite having to give weight away all around this afternoon, the five year old looks to be the main threat to the selection. Saeed Bin Suroor landed this race with French Navy last season and today he relies upon Free Wheeling. He has not been seen since winning a handicap out in Meydan four months ago and his fitness has to be taken on trust. Short Squeeze managed to notch up a hat-trick around this time last year and wasn’t beaten far when raised into Group Three company. He looks the type to go on again this year and he can go well here.
SATURDAY 3-15 NEWCASTLE: MY FREEDOM
SATURDAY 3-50 NEWCASTLE: ANGEL GABRIAL
SATURDAY 3-30 NEWMARKET: TOP NOTCH TONTO
SATURDAY 3-40 WINDSOR: SHORT SQUEEZE
