Newcastle 1.30
THE ADVISOR - Newcastle 1.30 Handicap - Class 2 - Northumberland Vase Handicap 2 miles 1/2 furlong - 14 run
A competitive field and a few to look at.
Appier and Blow Your Horn, who is on a 4 timer head the market and will take some beating but at their prices I'm not confident in either for a win bet so will take them on. There are a trio of irish runners with some Dundalk form but I can't get over-excited about Cozone, Legendary Day or La Hacienda, although Sean (Irish expert) has suggested he thinks Cozone is the most likely of the 3 to make a place)
Mostly Sunny is very solid at would have solid place claims but in that pack just behind the market leaders in the markets I'm much keener on CITIZEN GENERAL for Ed Dunlop, it's got Course winning form at 13 furlongs and I think the most likely of those stepping up in trip to benefit from the extra yardage. Hadrianus from the Johnston yard is only a 3 year old but already stepped up from 12 furlongs, that may be a tip in itself but at bigger and very interesting odds and with Joe Fanning in the saddle I much prefer and have more confidence about their horse WORLD WITHOUT LOVE. This one has AW form at the trip, marks around 70, its only a 4 year old and from Stall 2, its not hard to envisage Fanning running properly and trying to get the fractions right. He'll need to as this is probably the toughest AW track stamina wise but at the price I'm happy to take a chance.
At biggest Odds Ironopolis is of interest as Rebecca Menzies often gets hunches right, most of the rest I'm happy to leave alone, but THERMOSCOPE for Keith Dalgleish who is threatening to retire soon is another Course and Distance winner, returns to 2 miles here, its mark has gone up which does temper enthusiasm a little but it should be approaching peak form as a 4 year old and entirely possible there is more scope to improve.
(1) Citizen General / (2) Thermoscope / (3) if you wish to enhanced places - World Without Love