All-Weather expert Simon Mapletoft is on duty at Gosforth Park on Friday night, live on Sky Sports Racing, and here he reveals his fancy five.
Phoenix Star
4.55 Skopes Menswear Metrocentre Store Handicap (5f)
Young trainer Jessica Macey’s booking of Silvestre de Sousa catches the eye in this sprint handicap. Her eight-year-old colt is thriving at Newcastle and is dropping down in class after a series of creditable performances on turf. His last three races at Tapeta have earned him two firsts and a second and he has gained just 0.5kg more than his last win.
Watch day two of the Northumberland Plate Festival from Newcastle live on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 519) on Friday June 28.
Prince of Zenda
5.25 Jenningsbet in the Shiremoor Gosforth Park Cup Handicap (5f)
Hugo Palmer has won all the major races at the Plate Festival but this famous old handicap is missing from his CV. He hopes that Prince Of Zenda (Nap) can set the record straight on a track where he has already won twice this year.
Palmer told me he had been considering returning the gelding to minimum travel for some time and could have chosen the ideal race to do so. He showed enough natural speed to lead a hot Class 2 field in a 6f race here in May, only besting the next winner, Misty Grey, and can challenge a career high mark.
Columbine Chic
6.00 Jenningsbet in the Delves Group 3 Hoppings Fillies’ Stakes (10f)
Already proven at this level, George Boughey’s filly can redeem herself from an unlucky defeat in the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom on Derby Day. She had no time to rest when she needed it that day, but only lost by a neck over the mile.
Chic Colombine is one of Simon Mapletoft’s fantasies
Increasing the distance promises to suit her and she won her Novice at this track in her only previous All-Weather start. She is rated 6lbs lighter than German scorer Tiffany, but given an attractive weight of 12lbs for age, while German Guineas winner Darnation’s 5lb penalty makes her task more difficult.
Only in Jakarta
6.35 skopes.co.uk Best Handicap for Men’s Clothing (1m)
This No Nay Never colt impressed me when he came back from a break to win a novice race over 1200m at Newcastle in January. He failed to live up to his promise at the Craven Meeting at Newmarket but his wind has been altered since then and he is not yet exposed as a handicapper.
By moving up to 1m from a 2lb lower mark, he can get back on track immediately for Kevin Ryan, who saddles both Royal Ascot winners this year, and his stable jockey Tom Eaves. He is my next best bet of the meeting.
World humor
8.20 Jenningsbet in the North Shields Handicap (6f)
The Jim Goldie veteran has made good progress in his last two races on turf without worrying the judge, but a return to a harder track at Newcastle could see him record his sixth All-Weather victory. The nine-year-old colt needs a strong pace to run and should achieve that here. He is only 2lbs heavier than when he was successful over the track and distance in February and is well placed in stall 9 under the saddle of Paul Mulrennan, who excels on the waiting horses at this track.
Watch day two of the Northumberland Plate Festival from Newcastle live on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 519) on Friday June 28.
