Shining Blue eyes another victory at Gosforth Park

SHINING Blue can maintain his perfect record with a third career victory as he steps into handicap company for the first time at Newcastle.

His mark of 94 means trainer Saeed bin Suroor has had to pitch him into a competitive renewal of the Jenningsbet Seaton Delaval Handicap, but the four-year-old is on a rapid upward trajectory.

Shining Blue did not make the track at two or three, but his debut this year took the eye as he came home a comfortable two-and-ahalf-length maiden winner despite enjoying a less than perfect passage at Leicester.

A 7lb penalty failed to stop him in a Ripon novice event the next time, and while it did somewhat anchor him as he prevailed by just neck switching up to a mile, he did not look in love with the track.

He remains a horse of untapped potential and makes plenty of appeal in the hands of Danny

Tudhope. Lion Of War can defy a winner’s penalty in the Pertemps Riverside Restricted Novice Stakes.

The colt grabbed the headlines when he became a first winner for his ill-fated sire Roaring Lion at Leicester earlier this month, triumphing by two and a quarter lengths despite showing his inexperience and hanging a bit in the finish.

A cheap purchase at just 7,000 guineas in the autumn, Lion Of War is related to Hawk Wing on his dam’s side and could prove to be a very good buy indeed.

Ivan Furtado can top-and-tail the card with Lizzie Jean and Tickets.

Lizzie Jean tackles the Jenningsbet Handicap having opened her account at the third time of asking at Kempton.

Tickets was similarly successful at Kempton on his most recent run and looks the pick in the closing Pertemps Network Handicap.