The Weekend Winners panel returns to preview a busy Saturday of action from Newcastle and The Curragh.
The team of Kate Tracey, Sam Boswell and Declan Rix took center stage in the Newcastle feature of the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate Handicap – which sees 20 runners go for the top prize of £77,310.
Circus Of Rome leads the early betting for Richard Hughes, while last year’s winner Spirit Mixer is back to contest the race over the extended two miles. Ride The Thunder is also heading up the market, as are Team Player and Saint Etienne.
Sam Boswell…
“It doesn’t take a fortune to move ante-post markets these days but it was still notable that Circus Of Rome was a major move for the entire industry. He looks very short now in the race to compete.
“Alan King has won a few times in this race over the last six years or so, including Trueshan – which has been a favorite of mine in recent times. The horse I’ll be picking has done well in all weathers and on the flat – we’ll be fighting for Alan. Blazeon Five.
“Alan is in form at the moment with a 40% strike and had a great time of things at the big meeting last week. This horse finished second to a big-priced winner. [on reappearance at Newbury in April] and the numbers suggest you want to be in the top two in your run to prepare for this – and most of the field wasn’t there. I thought he was great value from the stable in form.”
Declan Rix…
“I think Synergism it will go well. Because Sing Us A Song and Spinning Wheel were not announced, the color of this race changed from a dynamic pace. I don’t see a bad pace in this one and he is well tricked out of the back nine to attack early.
“He’s got a great, outstanding style of racing. He ran ten times last year as a three-year-old, winning four and improved by 30lbs in the barrier. I just thought in his run at Lingfield, they didn’t push him hard enough and he was able to win. He’s sat well on this boy and he’s done all his best work of late – so his run will make it difficult for him.
“I think he’ll improve from three to four and he’s got a lot of weather and a lot of atmosphere here at Newcastle over the course and distance. There’s a lot to like about him.”
Kate Tracey…
“I’m biased too Team Player on 10/1. I had the pleasure of speaking to his trainer Ewan Whillans earlier in the week and his horse is lovely. He was bought to be a wanderer but because he was soft in winter, he did not run him. That forced their hand to turn the player who stayed in the Flat and won the first and second up.
“They took him out of the Chester Cup and I thought he was out of his mind that day. He did it for two miles and two furlongs and he didn’t score very well. He was beaten just two and a half lengths behind A Piece Of Heaven, who was well backed.
“He’s been on the racecourse at Newcastle and he put his toe in the tape, he nailed it. I’d like him to get well soon but at Newcastle – it’s not a bad place to be behind the bridle type.
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