Newcastle 3.30

 

The feature Flat race at Newcastle since time began and a competitive 20 runner field assemble.

 

The Draw can be an issue here if a horse can pop out from low and dominate and they do tend to go round 2 by 2 so kickback can be an issue but there is plenty of scope to find a position into the straight. Key not to waste energy too soon though over this demanding trip.

 

I kept coming back to my copious notes for this race and wit them being taken over many months I have a degree of confidence in one Yard in particular who will have targeted the race and I think prepared the horses for it. That's the Mark Johnson Yard and his runners have that ideal AW profile of being able to race prominently but to keep finding off or near the front and jockey's who are hand-picked to ride that style of race.

 

The 3 I like; in preference order; are LUCKY DEAL who is very much an AW specialist, Course and Distance winner off 98, runs off a mark of 100 with an excellent 5lbs Claimer, Stall 20 is not ideal but tactically it will be interesting to see what they do from there and I think the horse can run an enhanced place at big odds.

 

MILDENGERGER has been off since February, I'm sure he'd have had a prep if needed and they don't run them to get them fit they run them to keep them fit. Draw in 3 looks ideal and the sort who can run at or near the front, take a blow, get a second wind and stay on and on down the straight. If they dictate off the front this horse will take some passing. Solid off a mark of 111.

 

Finally, HOCHFIELD another who has won on Tapeta as a 2 year old and comes back to it here. A solid mark, Stall 15 again allows scope to run in various tactical styles and one i've had in my notebook for this race for a year. Hopefully it repays the patience.

 

Of the rest, the Irsih challenger Grandmaster flash worries me the most but I'll take my chances of the Johnson trio here all at nice each way prices.