Karl Burke on Good Friday runners at Newcastle and the return of Clifford Lee

Lee has spend five and a half months out of action since a motorbike crash in October that left him wondering whether he'd ever be able to sit on a horse again. The Group 1-winning jockey suffered an internal bleed and broke his C1 vertebra in the accident and has spent large parts of the intervening time in rehabilitation at Jack Berry House in order to be fit for his return to action.

Lee will partner stable stalwart Marshman in the Midnite All-Weather Sprint Handicap, one of a handful of runners for Middleman man Burke on the All-Weather Championships Finals Day card at Gosforth Park.

Burke told sportinglife.com: "Cliff has obviously had a tough time. He's a good lad and he's worked hard. He is naturally very, very fit and strong and he's been back riding out. We're delighted to see him back on the track.

"We ran Marshman over seven furlongs at Wolverhampton last time, he got stuck out wide and a bit too far back, I think he would have gone close but for that. Dropping back to a stiff six, as long as he jumps quickly, will help. Cliff gets a good tune out of him before so as long as he doesn't lose too much ground at the start, he should run another big race for him."

The programme kicks off with the Listed BetMGM Burradon Stakes and Burke sends the Amo-owned Billecart back to Newcastle following a striking course and distance success in a novice event last month (replay below).

The trainer feels Andrew Balding's more experienced New Monarch could be the principal danger to his colt, who holds an entry in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket next month.

He said of the chestnut son of Night Of Thunder: "He's a very good horse, this is a trial for us but I expect him to acquit himself well. I'd be a little bit worried about New Monarch in there but this is a nice horse and he warrants his place in a Listed race, that's for sure."

The Good Friday raiding party from Spiggot Lodge is rounded out by Three Non Blondes in the BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap, Flight Plan in the BetMGM All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap and Antrim in the Midnight All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap.

"Three Non Blondes is a fast filly," said Burke. "She's done really well. Pierre-Louis Jamin rides her now, he was going down to Chelmsford to ride a nice horse but that's been called off so he'll be back on Three Non Blondes.

"She's had a little break and not been back with us that long, maybe three or four weeks, to prepare for this. She should go there and run well but it's a handicap and it was always the plan. Hopefully she'll go well.

"Flight Plan is a very good work horse and if he reproduced what he does at home, then he'd run a big race. He's been a little bit hit and miss although things didn't happen in Dubai. I thought they would but he didn't quite fire. He likes good, fast ground so hopefully the surface isn't too soft as he's in good form.

"The runs in Newcastle (during December and January) qualified Antrim for Finals Day, he then went out to run in Dubai and he ran veery well. He won very well first time out over there and I think he's a horse that likes to run fresh.

"The quick turnaround in Dubai didn't really suit him. He's nice and fresh now and he looks fantastic so should run a big race as he's had a month off."

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