Great things beckon at Newcastle

Great Colaci can extend his fine Newcastle record with victory in the Bombardier “March To Your Own Drum” Handicap tomorrow.

Gillian Boanas’ course specialist is making his eighth successive trip to Gosforth Park, and it is safe to say it has proved a happy hunting ground so far.

Great Colaci is already a dual course-and-distance winner, has also struck here four times over a fur long shorter and has rarely been out of the money in his 20 visits to date.

The seven-year-old is up 4lb for his success here three weeks ago, putting him on a career-high rating of 66.

It is no exaggeration to depict him in the form of his life, however, and he appeared to have a little bit in hand when he prevailed by half-a-length last time.

There will be no prizes for originality if he and his new regular jockey Oliver Stammers get the job done again, of course – but there is every reason to support them to do so.

Earlier on the card, Rukwa is another worth an interest in the opening Bombardier British Hopped Amber Beer Handicap.

The six-year-old outran his odds when getting closest to a clear-cut and progressive winner over course and distance last time.

That represented a notable improvement, and it will be no surprise if his canny trainer can eke out a win from just a 2lb higher mark.

Rishworthian has decent prospects of successfully conceding weight all round in the Get Your Ladbrokes Daily Odds Boost Nursery Handicap.

David O’Meara’s busy juvenile has already won two of his 10 starts since June, and almost made it three when a close second in selling company over a furlong further at Lingfield last time.

He is no world-beater, but remains consistent and can prove his superiority in this modest grade on his first venture to Newcastle over what looks an ideal trip.

Wolverhampton stages an evening all-weather card, on which Kath’s Lustre can shine before the lights take full effect in the second division of the Play 4 To Win At Betway Handicap.

Richard Hughes’ mare was narrowly beaten over a furlong shorter here in October, and has since run well before fading late on at Chelmsford.

She is a four-time winner over six furlongs, though, once from almost a stone higher – and therefore has plenty in her favour.

Half-an-hour later, Figeac lurks invitingly at the bottom of the weights in the Betway Handicap. Nick Littmoden’s grey has been a slow-burner since his arrival from France three years ago, often campaigned at even longer trips than this both over hurdles and on the Flat.