Catching Pigeons: Gossip and tips from the gallops
Don't miss the latest tips from the major training centres up and down the country ahead of another hot and hectic Saturday in the world of racing.
Cool Sky could prove a sound each-way wager in the Betfred Northumberland Vase Handicap at Newcastle on Saturday.
Ian Williams took this prize 12 months ago with the highly-talented London Prize and is plotting a similar course with the selection.
London Prize won the Goodwood Handicap on his way to winning here, and Cool Sky also put his name on that roll of honour last August. Although he threw in one or two duff performances over hurdles after that success, he showed with his win in a handicap at Aintree last month that he was back in form, and he should come on for that run.
The main event - the Stobart Rail & Civils Northumberland Plate Handicap can go the way of James Fanshawe's classy Higher Power.
He won this race 12 months ago and while unable to develop into a Pattern-race performer, he finds himself returning to Gosforth Park of just 1lb higher than last year. He also showed up well enough behind Weekender at Chelmsford, since when he's been kept fresh for another crack at this.
Fanshawe is hopeful his string are coming to the boil and confidence is quite high in the camp, with stable companion Lord George also worthy of each-way support.
Dream Of Dreams will have to handle the Tapeta surface, but is a useful performer on his day and looks worth an each-way interest in the Group Three Betfred Chipchase Stakes.
He enjoyed a good first season with Sir Michael Stoute, with Listed wins at Lingfield and Doncaster in 2017, and is reported back in good form after a short break.
His yard are in much better nick than when he made his only start so far this season in the Abernant at Newmarket in April.
The Newcastle nap on Saturday is Garrick in the Britcon Handicap over 10 furlongs.
John Gosden does exceptionally well with the runners he sends to the north east and this Denford Stud-owned son of Galileo has seemingly blossomed since being narrowly denied at Windsor.
His maiden win came on this Tapeta track and there's a buzz about the camp ahead of his bid to make it 2-2 at the course.
Dream Of Dream's stablemate Elector makes a quick return to action after his trip to Royal Ascot and he can reward the move with victory in the sunbets.co.uk Handicap at York.
A winner at the Berkshire course on his only outing as a two-year-old, he earned his chance to represent The Queen at the big meeting with a good second to Raa Atoll over 10 furlongs at Nottingham last month.
However, the extra quarter of a mile of the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes proved beyond him and, after holding every chance turning for home, he faded to finish seventh of the nine runners.
The fact that Raa Atoll (who was receiving 7lb at Nottingham) finished a very creditable fourth suggests Elector is well weighted for this return to both handicap company and the shorter trip.
Archie Watson has come a long way in a very short time as a trainer and he should continue his upwardly direction of travel with So Brave in the Listed Betway Empress Fillies Stakes at Newmarket.
The Saxon Gate trainer has wasted no time in tackling this level of company with the daughter of Kyllachy, who carried a ton of stable confidence on her debut at Lingfield 18 days ago, and never looked likely to disappoint.
She knew her job really well and showed a smart turn of foot to bring her home a comfortable winner. Although the runner-up has been well beaten since, the third - Be Like Me - finished second at Newbury on Tuesday evening, and So Brave looks sure to improve plenty for the run.
Catching Pigeons: Strongest fancies
1.30 Newcastle
4.25 Newcastle
4.45 Windsor
Crossing The Line can make it two wins from four starts this season in the Matthew Clark Handicap at Chester.
Her form has a very solid look to it and she only just missed out on following up her win at Lingfield when beaten a neck by Clubbable at Chelmsford last time.
The winner has boosted the form with a second in a Listed event at Carlisle’s big meeting on Wednesday and Crossing The Line has pleased since.
Balding has a great record around the twists and turns of the Roodee and Urban Aspect should step up on his debut effort behind Flying Sparkle in the Beefeater Pink Confined Novice Stakes.
He gave the impression there was plenty more to come at the Welsh course and he should handle the course okay.
Verne Castle is another to note at Chester in the Jim Beam Handicap.
Michael Wigham's charge - formerly with Balding - hasn't won on turf yet but his all-weather form suggests he's well handicapped in this sphere when things finally click and the low draw should help David Probert gain a good position early on.
Firelight ran a good race after losing ground at the start on her debut at Sandown and she should kick the afternoon off on the right note for Balding in the Sun Bets Follow Us On Twitter Novice Stakes at Windsor.
The winner of that race, Oberyn Martell and won again at Salisbury since, and Firelight should appreciate this extra furlong.
Plutonian is turning into something of a Windsor specialist and he should make it three from three on the course in the New Heidsieck And Co Enclosure Handicap.
Charlie Hills has opted for the easier option for this progressive four-year-old, who was also entered in the listed race earlier in the card. He ran on strongly after making most of the running to beat Mordin with a bit in hand and the form looks solid enough.
Sir Mark Prescott's horses have stood out looking particularly well in headquarters over the past month and his Praeceps wants monitoring in the market at the very least in the concluding MPM Flooring Apprentice Handicap.
Campaigned solely over a mile at two, mainly when 100/1, the stamina on the dam's side of his pedigree suggests longer trips will definitely suit this season and an initial mark of 63 could prove manageable while not patently lenient at first sight. His jockey Gavin Ashton is going places and may start making a name for himself before long.
Hilight should go well for Hughie Morrison in the Racing Welfare Racing Staff Week Handicap at Lingfield.
She produced a solid debut effort behind the smart Whitefountainfairy on her debut at Kempton, but did not move forward from that performance on his last two starts.
However, she was continually tightened up in mid-division on her latest start at Wolverhampton and was not given a tough time by her Charlie Bennett in the closing stages after encountering such a poor experience.
She looks nicely weighted off 62 for his debut effort in a handicap and she should be able to see off Clive Cox’s Fashion Sense.
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