It looked like being a beautiful morning here in Newmarket after a wet start but then the wind started to blow and we had the occasional shower too.
Dark Red ran well last night considering it was his first run back from a layoff and the very slow fractions set throughout the contest were a hinderance to him. He is now likely to run in the Lincoln on his next start as long as the ground is suitable for him at Doncaster. Grandscape finished in the midfield later on in the 1m Novice, we will see what the handicapper does to him before making any further plans.
We run three horses up at Newcastle this evening. Amplification runs in the 7f Novice at 6:15 and we are offsetting three pounds of his seven pound penalty by employing the services of David Egan. Night Castle ran respectably in a strong looking race at Kempton and with normal improvement and in receipt of weight he could take the beating. Narcos looked promising on first start before disappointing on terrible ground but it’s interesting he returns in headgear. Citron Major has placed in behind some nice types on each of his two starts, Broken Force was not beaten far in a strong looking Novice but this is his third start and On A May Day has a speedy pedigree. I hope our horse will run well in what looks a trappy contest but he could get found out by his penalty.
Arnarson has now won twice this year and he should appreciate the track here at Newcastle, he shapes as if he will enjoy the 1m but it is a stiff finish and we are just hoping he can see it out here. The horse he beat last time won for a sixth time this Winter last night and he has claims in a wide open race. If Mutarakez bounced back to anywhere near his best form he will be very hard to beat and he does not have much to find with Lose At Sea who was just in front of him last time. Testa Rossa won well last time but the handicapper has had his say and he will have to step forward to win again this evening. Zabeel Star was running well around the turn of the year but was below par last time when behind Lost At Sea and Mutarakez. Kentucky Connection was fifth in a 2000 Guineas and a repeat of his Newcastle second last June would see him win this evening but he has been woefully out of form since.
Sir Gnet is our final runner of the evening in the 1m 0-70 handicap. Looking at his opponents, Newmarket Warrior enjoys the straight mile at Newcastle but he does not enjoy winning as much and can often be quite frustrating. Kilbaha Lady edged out a well treated rival when last seen but she returns from a decent break. Al Khan is not the force of old and has never won over further than 7f but he has been in form recently at a level. Abushamah has dropped to a good mark but has to pick up the winning thread again having not won for 21 months. Our horse has an each way chance but he has been frustrating and remains a Maiden, the mile here could suit him and we feel the drop back in trip is worth a try given he ran so well over this distance at Newbury.