Arafi to progress again at Newcastle

Arafi can prove up to the task of defying a 13lb hike in the Bombardier British Hopped Amber Beer Fillies’ Handicap at Newcastle tomorrow.

Richard Hannon’s charge did not strike gold until her seventh start at Salisbury last August – her final turf outing of the year – but she is certainly on a roll now.

She shrugged off a 169-day break at Kempton at the start of February, making smooth progress before launching a winning run inside the last of seven furlongs to triumph by three-quarters of a length in comfortable fashion.

The handicapper put her up 6lb for that victory, but he had clearly underestimated the rate of Arafi’s improvement because she made a mockery of that rise on her next start, overcoming a tardy start to stamp her authority in the closing stages with the minimum of fuss. The manner of that win has seen Arafi pitched up to a mark of 87 – but refreshed in the interim, she can kick on again here.

Antagonize is on an at- tractive mark at present and can make the most of it in the first division of the Bombardier Handicap. Rated 80 at the start of last term, Bryan Smart’s charge is now on a luckless streak that stretches back to July 2018 as a juvenile, but his lack of success has seen him drop down the weights. Racing off a perch of 58 last time, Antagonize seemed to enjoy the move to a mile on his most recent outing when he finished second.

A 3lb rise for that halflength defeat may be a little harsh. But his confidence should have got a boost, and Antagonize may finally be ready to return to the winner’s enclosure.

Smokey could have found her niche on the Southwell surface, and the Betway Handicap looks a good opportunity. The four-year-old had already demonstrated her ability to handle both Polytrack and Tapeta, and she added Fibresand to her repertoire when triumphing by a neck last month over the same five furlongs she faces here. Despite ducking right at the start, she still managed to race prominently and was too strong in the finish for Passional – who was bang in form, having won four of her last five starts.

Raised 4lb for that win, Smokey will have the handy 5lb claim of Rhys Clutterbuck.

Three of Charlie Arthur’s four career wins have come at Southwell, so he can be relied upon to put up a decent show in the Heed Your Hunch At Betway

Handicap.

Each of his wins came over a mile at the track last winter, and he has proved pretty capable over longer trips at other tracks subsequently.

Admittedly, he appeared to run out of petrol over 12 furlongs back in October, but perhaps taking up a less prominent position can play in his favour.