Our racing expert Lucky Loader previews the ITV action with nine races at Newcastle and Lingfield for the valuable All-Weather Finals Day on Good Friday.
This is always a really good day in the racing calendar with lots of competitive betting opportunities to get stuck into. I also think there is a bit of star quality on show this year and there could be a few horses to follow on the turf.
1.53 Newcastle – Spartan Army (Win)
Spartan Army has been in top form this winter since he’s been switched to all-weather. He arrives here looking for the four-timer, having beaten the likes of Prywden along the way. The son of Highland Reel is now 4lb higher than his last win at Lingfield, but I think he can cope with that and rack up another success here.
2.25 Newcastle – Blue Prince (Win)
Lots of these have been improving this winter, and plenty of them might not be done yet. However, I am just going to side with Blue Prince. He seems to love it at Newcastle and has already won here twice. The three-year-old gelding has already met several of these rivals and come out on top against them, including Sommelier. With his proven experience at the track, I suspect he can go close again.
3.00 Newcastle – Nine Tenths (Win)
I really like this filly, and I put her up when she won the Listed Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton earlier this month. She has been on a big upward curve this winter, and I think running her over 7f brings out the best in her as she has shown plenty of speed. As this is a handicap, she’ll have to carry top weight, but Jack Enright will take off a handy 7lb. Moving forward, I think she could be a horse that can mix it in Group and Listed races this season and looks like the one to beat here.
3.35 Newcastle – Cover Up (Win)
Cover Up seemed to win with plenty in hand when scoring over this course and distance last month, and the handicapper rightly took a stance by raising him 13lb. However, the way he won that day suggests to me that he could be a horse that could develop into a Group horse as he always has to be saving a bit for himself. Furthermore, he won’t be phased by this course and distance, as he’s already won here. He looks like an exciting prospect moving forward this season.
4.10 Newcastle – Teumessias Fox (Each Way)
Andrew Balding doesn’t waste too many darts when sending his horses up to Newcastle, and I think he’s got a live chance here with Teumessias Fox. The son of Lope De Vega has shown that his best form often comes when he’s fresh and he arrives here off a short break, which should suit. The last time we saw him, he was a good winner at Kempton, beating the likes of Max Vega in a comfortable fashion. He’s now 6lb higher, but if he can build on his recent run to me, he can go very close.
4.40 Newcastle – Dear My Friend (Win)
Dear My Friend has been a cash machine for punters this winter as he arrives here chasing the four-timer. Furthermore, he loves it at Newcastle, as he’s two from two at the track, which included a win on this card last year. It will take another mighty performance from him to defy top-weight, but he’s a horse that just keeps defying the handicapper, and he looks to have a favourite’s chance.
2.05 Lingfield – Al Rufaa (Win)
Al Rufaa has threatened to win a big race since joining the Kubler’s last year. He was just denied when finishing second at Wolverhampton last month after pulling very hard. I think the track at Lingfield will help him settle better, including the big field that he’ll get here. If they do go hard early and there is a pace collapse, I think he’ll be finishing fast and might be able to pick up the pieces.
2.40 Lingfield – Borgi (Each Way)
This is very competitive, but Borgi has been holding his form well on the all-weather throughout the winter. The last time we saw him, he beat Gincident at Southwell by a neck, who opposes him here. Even though the five-year-old gelding is 2lb higher this time around, that doesn’t put me off, and with James Doyle booked for the ride, I see a lot of positives with him.
3.15 Lingfield – Tenerife Sunshine (Each Way)
I was encouraged by Tenerife Sunshine’s run at Kempton when he finished second over 1m4f earlier this month as he was staying on well at the end, suggesting this step up to 2m should suit. On pedigree, he doesn’t scream a stayer, but this is the type of horse the Johnston’s do well with, and I can see him getting the trip. The four-year-old is still lightly raced and open to improvement, and it could be over these kinds of marathon trips that we see an even better horse.
3.50 Lingfield – Intervention (Each Way)
Intervention has been running over 7f of late, but I don’t think that is his best trip. A lot of his best form has come over shorter, and the drop back to 6f will suit him here. If you go back through his form, he won over this course and distance back in December last year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if his shrew connections have earmarked this race. With a good draw in stall four, I can see him being in contention each way.
