Ide with Stargazer at Newcastle
STARGAZER has an ideal opportunity to demonstrate his current well-being with victory in the Betway Handicap at Newcastle.
Phil Kirby’s very useful stayer has tended, more than most perhaps, to run in and out of form through his successful career to date.
But at Wolverhampton last time, despite extending his winless run to six outings spread over five months, the eight-year-old provided a strong indication he is back in good order as he had to settle for a slightly unlucky and close third.
That was just two weeks ago, and there is no better venue for Stargazer to consolidate a return to his best than at Newcastle.
He is a dual course-and-distance winner at Gosforth Park, and also a four-time runner-up and once third in his eight visits.
He earned a career-high rating of 104 after victory here in a valuable handicap almost two years ago - but after just one success in nine subsequent attempts, he races off an 8lb lower mark this time.
That gives him a little leeway, against a clutch of old rivals, following his highly encouraging Wolverhampton effort.
There, Stargazer was not quite able to peg back the first two at this same trip.
But he was not helped by some minor late trouble in running - and back at this significantly stiffer track, he has much in his favour.
Later on the evening card, Culture catches the eye on stable debut for Jedd O’Keeffe in the Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap.
The five-year-old has been consistent for Tom Ward this winter - with one victory and four creditable placings from his five starts - and before then, he was a four-time winner for George Baker.
Kempton’s Polytrack has proved very much to his liking, and he has risen to a career-high rating.
But there is no reason to suppose this switch to Tapeta will be any detriment, and Culture’s habitual late rattle at up to a mile and a half suggests this testing 10 furlongs could be spot on as a starting point for his new connections.
Great Esteem deserves another chance to prove himself in the Read Katie Walsh On Betway Insider Handicap.
Archie Watson’s lightly-raced fiveyear-old did not necessarily look the most straightforward when failing to justify favouritism over this course and distance in late January.
He perhaps did a little too much too soon that day, and then hung right in the finish as he was collared and dropped to third.
FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie retains the support of his federation after it emerged he left the squad’s bubble on the opening weekend of the Guinness Six Nations to watch his son play rugby.
Les Bleus’ round three game against Scotland on Sunday was postponed because of an outbreak of coronavirus, with Galthie providing the first positive test after a 15-13 victory over Ireland in Dublin on February 14.
Eleven players, including star scrum-half Antoine Dupont and captain Charles Ollivon, have been diagnosed with Covid-19, prompting French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu to demand answers.
Maracineanu has threatened to withdraw France from the Six Nations amid reports that players went out to eat waffles while in Rome to face Italy in round one.
But French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte has now revealed that the day after the Azzurri had been crushed 50-10, Galthie attended the Stade JeanBouin in Paris to see his son Mathis play.
“For me, he has the right to leave from the moment he is masked. He was outside,” Laporte told France 3 television channel.
“He watched the match alongside (Stade Francais director general) Thomas Lombard, who himself is tested every three days and also wore a mask. I don’t see where the problem could be. But then again I’m not a doctor.
“Why wouldn’t I support him (Galthie)? I am not a prosecutor. And it’s not because I really like Fabien. He knows very well that I don’t give gifts to people.”
The Six Nations have yet to reveal a date for the re-arranged match between tournament favourites France and Scotland.