Stars looks to be Newcastle plate smasher

Sir Mark Prescott’s runner loves the track with two wins from last two starts

FLYMETOTHESTARS simply has to go close in the Stobart Rail Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

Lightly raced with just four career outings, Sir Mark Prescott’s inmate crucially seems to love the new track at Gosforth Park, winning his last two starts there.

The most recent of those came in May over the Plate trip and saw him account for the useful Endless Acres, who showed the form in an excellent light when second to Thomas Hobson at Royal Ascot last week.

The Prescott runner is open to any amount of improvement in these longdistance events and the Newmarket baronet is never too far away when he targets one at a race of this sort of nature. DON’T TOUCH gets the nod in the Betfred TV Chipchase Stakes.

The five-year-old has had to compete a high level since winning the 2015 Ayr Gold Cup, but has rarely disgraced himself.

He was less than two lengths behind last weekend’s Diamond Jubilee hero The Tin Man in the Qipco British Champions Sprint last October and there was not much wrong with his comeback run in the Ballycorus Stakes in Ireland.

That effort should have blown away any cobwebs, while a return to six furlongs will suit. Patience can pay off for HOME OF

THE BRAVE when Hugo Palmer’s five-year-old has his second run of the campaign in the Betway Criterion Stakes at Newmarket.

MIDTERM has yet to live up to expectations but the one-time leading Derby hope of 2016 can benefit from a drop in grade to take Listed honours in the Betway Fred Archer Stakes.

SELECTIONS:

NEWCASTLE: 1.50 Amazour, 2.25 Don’t Touch, 3.00 London Prize, 3.30 FLYMETOTHESTARS (NAP), 4.05 Airton, 4.45 Gerry The Glover, 5.15 Where’s Jeff.

NEWMARKET: 2.05 Midterm, 2.40 Dance Diva, 3.15 Home Of The Brave, 3.50 Dukhan, 4.20 Melodic Motion, 4.55 Swiftsure, 5.30 Pavillon.

DOUBLE: Don’t Touch and Flymetothestars.