Amlad
Good morning from Newmarket. Just the one runner again today as Amlad seeks to register his first win of the campaign in the 5.45 at Newcastle.
He was a progressive horse in 2017, winning his maiden at Beverley and a handicap at Newmarket, the latter over a mile and a half. Things have been a little more stop start this year, and after a promising seasonal return at Haydock, he suffered some niggly issues and was disappointing a couple of times. However, after having been given a mid-season break, his recent comeback run at Wolverhampton offered encouragement, as he travelled well into the race and looked the winner turning for home. He clearly blew up in the straight and faded into sixth, but the run will have done him good.
With that under his belt I would be hopeful of a step forward today, but we have landed a wide draw and this looks a better quality of race than his last one. The positives are that his only previous run at Newcastle was half decent, we are back to a more realistic mark of 80, and the horse appears in good form. I hope therefore that we have a small each way chance at a double figure price, but I am well aware that this looks a tricky little contest.
All the best,
Ed.