Lord Of The Lodge a cut above

RACING: Burke’s charge 9lb or more ahead of rivals at Newcastle

LORD OF THE LODGE can book his ticket for All-weather Championships Finals Day with victory at Newcastle.

Karl Burke’s charge lines up in the Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Conditions Stakes, a race in which he is technically 9lb or more ahead of the field.

Lord Of The Lodge was clearly well regarded from an early stage as a juvenile, winning on his debut before being upped in class for an ultimately unsuccessful appearance in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Beaten just under six lengths, he was not disgraced but it appeared as though his limitations had been exposed when beaten at Listed level next time, before getting back on track in novice company.

The Dandy Man colt posted by far his best performance on what proved to be his final outing of 2019, going down by just a length and a half to Threat in the Gimcrack at York.

He will surely improve for the outing in this six-furlong heat, but Lord Of The Lodge could be a cut above.

STRAIGHT RIGHT bounced back to form at Kempton last month and his confidence should be riding high for the Bombardier British Hopped Amber Beer Handicap.

The six-year-old ended a lengthy barren spell stretching back to September 2018 when winning by a neck in a conditions event over six furlongs.

He produced a late burst to win that day and while he switches up to seven furlongs here, that is far from a negative as he is a multiple winner over that trip.

JONNIESOFA had his intended run at Kelso last week scuppered by the weather, but the Betsafe Top Price All Runners Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Doncaster can provide compensation.

The 10-year-old made an impressive return from a long lay-off when winning at Ayr in November and turned in another excellent effort when fourth in the Rehearsal Chase.

He then floundered a bit in a decent renewal of the Rowland Meyrick on Boxing Day, but this looks an easier task on the face of it.