There are several very competitive and classy events scattered around Friday’s five Flat meetings, and a card over the jumps at Cartmel as well, but the Gosforth Park Cup Handicap at Newcastle’s evening meeting is possibly the pick, with 14 runners due to go to post and even the 25-1 outsider Confessional offering the odd bit of recent form that gives him a squeak.
Orion’s Bow is the favourite for a race with a first prize of almost £30,000, despite having failed to register a win in three starts this season and his last half-dozen in all since a success from a mark of 97 at Hamilton last July. The bare form does not tell the whole story, however, and Tim Easterby’s gelding is likely to improve significantly on his latest run over five furlongs at Musselburgh, when he could not find running room in the final quarter mile and finished with plenty left to give. The six-year-old also has winning form on Newcastle’s Tapeta surface and even holds an entry in the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August, but he has top weight and a mark of 104 to defy, 7lb higher than for his most recent win, which makes a price of around 100-30 look thin in such a competitive race.
They are likely to go off hard up front too, so a horse that sits a little way off the pace could be the way to go and the favourite’s stable companion Rasheeq (7.00) catches the eye at around 8-1.
The four-year-old missed the 2016 season and so remains unexposed with just 12 runs, and a solitary success in a Southwell maiden, to his name. He has finished second in two strong five-furlong handicaps at York already this season, however, including a race at the Dante meeting when he went down by a neck to Duke Of Firenze, a close third in the Dash at Epsom on Derby day next time up. He was short of room at a vital stage when favourite for a strong race at Musselburgh last time out, has Rachel Richardston taking off 3lb and should go close with any luck in running.
Kinloch Pride (6.30) should also go well at around 6-1 on the same card. She did not appreciate a step up to six furlongs last time out but had previously won four of her five starts over five and remains on a workable mark back at her favoured trip.
To Dibba (4.10) put up a useful performance on the clock when successful in a maiden event at Leicester in May and can make the most of an opening mark of 83 in a strong handicap at Yarmouth, while Baron Bolt (3.40) was never on terms after a slow start at Catterick last time but has a chance at around 11-2 if he is sharper today.
False Id (3.00) looks the pick of the card at Doncaster at around 7-1, while Vodka Pigeon (6.20) could get the better of favourite Oriental Song in the novice event on the evening card at Newmarket.
Friday’s tips
Doncaster 2.00 Sardenya 2.30 Learn By Heart 3.00 False Id 3.30 Helovaplan 4.00 Glittering Jewel 4.30 Braes Of Lochalsh 5.00 Zumran 5.30 Bobby Vee
Yarmouth 2.10 Jellmood 2.40 Cribbs Causeway 3.10 Incredible Dream 3.40 Baron Bolt 4.10 To Dibba 4.40 Harbour Patrol 5.10 Sitar
Cartmel 2.20 Its Pandorama 2.50 Attention Seaker 3.20 Verona Opera 3.50 Brother Scott 4.20 Camillas Wish 4.50 Sailors Warn 5.20 Running In Heels
Newcastle 6.00 Excel Again 6.30 Kinloch Pride (nb) 7.00 Rasheeq (nap) 7.35 Mirzam 8.05 Chain Of Daisies 8.40 Cobalty Isle 9.10 Quiet Warrior
Newmarket 5.50 Trulee Scrumptious 6.20 Vodka Pigeon 6.50 Patchwork 7.25 Immortalised 7.55 Raven’s Lady 8.30 Al Neksh 9.00 Cartographer
Chester 6.10 Gala Celebration 6.40 Knight In Armour 7.10 Titi Makfi 7.45 Dream Walker 8.15 Cosmic Ray 8.50 Londinium
