Stargazer looks back in good order

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 fourtime 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.

Phil Kirby could be in business over jumps at Catterick, where his Whoshotthesheriff returns to novice company in pursuit of a second chase success in five attempts.

Whoshotthesheriff was a promising winner over the minimum trip at Carlisle in November, then disappointing at Newcastle the following month before running well again to be a good third in a decent Doncaster handicap.

The seven-year-old goes up in trip for the Jumps At Home With Racing TV Novices’ Chase, but was a two-and-ahalf-mile winner over hurdles at a similarly sharp track.

The Evan Williams-trained Ring The Moon is expected to complete his hattrick in the opening Watch On Racing TV Handicap Chase at Leicester.

The son of Spanish Moon won by 14 lengths at this venue a couple of starts back, so it was no surprise to see him follow up with relative ease at Taunton last week.

A 7lb penalty is unlikely to be enough to stop him going in again.