Roca Magica, middle, cantering in Newmarket
A busy day with three runners heading to Newcastle for the first day of the Northumberland Plate meeting, and also one closer to home at Newmarket. We went close with Sporting Times at Kempton last night so here’s hoping for a bit more luck this afternoon, although the racing looks tough and competitive as ever!
Our headline act is Dark Red, who goes in the 4.15 at Newcastle, a 0-105 mile handicap. He has been his dependable self so far this year, finishing seventh in the Lincoln and finishing placed in good handicaps at Chelmsford, Chester and Epsom. Inevitably, as a result of his consistency, he remains five pounds above his last winning mark on 101, which always makes life tough for him. He has been racing over a mile and a quarter on his recent starts, but we drop back to a mile today. The stiff finish at Newcastle ought to be in his favour at this trip, and he has won on the AW before, albeit he has never run at Newcastle previously. Should he take to the surface, then I think he has an each way chance. We have booked the experienced apprentice Lewis Edmunds to utilise his valuable three pound claim.
In the 3.40 at the same venue, a mile and a quarter 0-75, we run Sparte Quercus. Formerly trained in Hong Kong, he joined us for the 2017 season and won twice, though so far this season has been a struggle. On his last run, also at Newcastle incidentally, he trailed home a tailed off last for the second race in succession. It is difficult to be optimistic as a result, but he is now down to mark of 70, from which he ought to be competitive. Hopefully we will see signs of a recovery in form today. Ben Curtis rides.
Our third runner at Gosforth Park is Agar’s Plough, who goes in the 7F 0-75 handicap at 5.20 and will be ridden by Oisin Murphy. It is frustrating that he has yet to win his first race, as he unquestionably has the talent to do so. His recent third at Newbury was a major step in the right direction and as a son of Dutch Art I expect today’s first run on an artificial surface to hold no fears. He is fairly handicapped on 72, so is another with definite each way claims, but this looks a competitive race for the grade.
Our Newmarket runner is Roca Magica in the 6F novice at 1.40. A lovely daughter of Garswood, she has shown ability on both her starts thus far and will probably go the nursery route in due course. It is possible that this recent spell of hot weather is not in her favour, given her sire’s noted preference for softer going, but we hope she will continue her steady progression this afternoon under David Probert.
All the best,
Ed.