Bank on nifty Fifty to go the distance for Newcastle prize
● Mclintock hope poised to make it three wins on trot
Dubawi Fifty can continue his progress in the Betway Stayers’ Handicap at Newcastle today.
Fourth in the Cesarewitch for Karen Mclintock after victories at Ayr and Nottingham last season, he has regained the winning thread already this year.
The five-year-old scraped home at Newcastle in early January but, as that was only over a mile and a half, he will have found the trip very much on the sharp side.
He then went to Wolverhampton in February, when he was far more at home over an extended two miles, beating the useful Gwafa by a length.
Many would have expected him to be prepared for Finals Day over Easter but Mclintock does not believe Lingfield is a suitable track given its short straight, so she is looking at a very valuable prize at Musselburgh instead before focusing on the Northumberland Plate.
Velvet Vision really caught the eye on her debut for Mark Tompkins and can go one better in the 32Red Casino Novice Stakes.
Tompkins is not known for his handling of juveniles but he might have an above-average one on his hands in this Nathaniel filly.
Sent off at 66-1, she rattled home to claim second behind Karl Burke’s Lumi, who had already shown a decent level of form.
That was over a mile and not surprisingly she steps up in trip for this, given her sire produces plenty of middle distance types it should be well within her range.
Bengali Boys had his stamina well and truly stretched over seven furlongs on his reappearance but will have a better chance over six in the 32Red Casino Handicap.
Richard Fahey’s three-yearold owes his big weight to winning the Super Sprint at Newbury last term but he was beaten only a length by the smart Sound And Silence in a Listed race at York afterwards.
As he is giving plenty of weight away to all of his rivals this time, Fahey has chosen to employ 7lb apprentice Sebastian Woods.
Russian Realm ran a nice race on his comeback when third and can defy top weight in the Betway Sprint Handicap.
Paul Midgley’s eight-year-old has lost none of his dash, as he showed when third to Heaven’s Guest in a decent race last month.