SMART MONEY ON GOSFORTH SPECIALIST

IT IS five years since Kentucky connection took fifth place in the 2000 Guineas, but Bryan Smart’s stable stalwart is still on the go and retains plenty of ability.

Now a gelding, he won over this mile trip last month and has become something of a Newcastle specialist, making him worthy of following in the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap.

Exhalation is another course and distance Gosforth Park winner, springing an 80-1 shock over a mile last time. He can repeat the dose, albeit at shorter odds, in the Free Tips Daily On attheraces Handicap.

Secret Protector can enhance his big-race claims by winning the bet365 Feilden Stakes at

Newmarket.

The Charlie Appleby-trained son of War Front won the second of his two starts at Kempton as a two-year-old, before spending the winter in Dubai.

Secret Protector ran only once in Meydan, but he certainly created a big impression when trotting up by five and a half lengths from Areen over a distance not dissimilar to this one.

This is a very solid renewal of a race that can provide Classic clues, but it seems significant that he is the pick of William Buick in preference to stablemate Highland Avenue, who has been progressing nicely on the all-weather.

Aidan O’Brien’s Arturo Toscanini is an obvious danger, as is Royal Champion for Roger Varian, but it is often folly to oppose Appleby and Buick on their home turf.

Hortzadar ran an excellent race in the Lincoln and can gain a deserved success in the Pat Smullen Handicap.

Outrunning his odds of 66-1 at Doncaster last month, the David O’Meara-trained six-year-old was an excellent third to the highly progressive winner Haqeeqy, beaten just two lengths.

A similar effort would make him hard to beat at Headquarters.