SPARTAN SET TO STRIKE ON GOSFORTH PARK OUTING
SPARTAN Fighter was highly tried during his younger days and while he failed to live up to Group-race hopes, an event like the MansionBet Beaten By A Head Handicap at Newcastle is well within his range.
Now in his second year with Anthony Brittain, the four-year-old has won two of his last five starts, all of which have been at Gosforth Park.
He secured back-to-back successes in September and then earlier this month before just falling short at Newcastle on Saturday.
It is interesting he makes a swift return.
Rainyday Woman can secure back-to-back wins at Wincanton by landing the MansionBet Proud To Support British Racing Novices’ Hurdle.
The six-year-old has won three of her seven starts to date – a strike-rate that can be further enhanced for Paul Nicholls here.
Good enough to win a Listed bumper last term at Huntingdon, she was widely expected to get off the mark at the first time of asking over hurdles when lining up at Ludlow in November.
Sent off an odds-on favourite, Rainyday Woman had no answer to Cup Of Coffee’s late burst, having been challenged for the lead through the early stages.
Granted the ability to dictate at Wincanton next time, at the start of this month, Rainyday Woman made no mistake in coming home 11 lengths clear and a follow up under a penalty looks perfectly possible.
Striking A Pose put in a good round of jumping to win on his fencing debut and another victory is within his grasp in the Bank-AWinner With MansionBet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
Winner of two of his six hurdles runs, Striking A Pose was a point-to-point winner before changing hands for £95,000 last year, so it was little surprise he proved pretty sharp over the bigger obstacles.
The margin of victory on debut was a length and a half – but that does not really do justice to the manner of the success and Striking A Pose looks one to follow both here and for the rest of the campaign.
There would surely be no more popular winner than Burrow Seven in the closing Racing Again 28th December Open National Hunt Flat Race at Catterick.
The four-year-old runs in the colours of the Burrow Seven Racing Club, set up in honour of former rugby league player Rob Burrow MBE, with all funds raised in 2021 donated to the MND Association.
While there is plenty from the heart to recommend his chances on his racecourse bow, Burrow Seven also boasts a smart pedigree as a full-brother to multiple winner Monbeg Chit Chat and a halfsibling of the very useful Silver Hallmark.
The track also acknowledges the inspirational Burrow in naming the Rob Burrow Is A Legend! Juvenile Hurdle, with Kayfast Warrior taken to strike for Donald McCain.