rebelfm

NEWCASTLE
15TH APRIL
GOOD GOING
VERY WINDY CAUSING STRONG HEADWIND DOWN THE STRAIGHT

PRINCESS PHENNY (pos)

Opening race runners in the two year old maiden were all newcomers with several looking very green in the paddock. However the front four finished well clear of the remainder and they looked a precocious bunch. The first two, Pigeon Pie and PP quickened better than Robynelle and Lexicon Rose but the latter pair still look quite good at this stage in the season. It was though the runner up PP who caught the eye for future races. Her dam was never tried over short trips and she had enough ability to win over a mile and a half at Downpartick. The second dam is closely related to Pharaohs Delight who won G1 Phoenix stakes and was third in the Nunthorpe as well as the L’abbeye. Red Rocks a multiple group winner including the Breeders Cup turf again shows plenty of class in the stock. With an eye to jumping the family includes Medicinal who was a decent chaser finishing third in a grade 3 event and being rated 144 at his prime. Was third in two group 2 races on the level over 10f. PP looked in fine condition  in the paddock today. Well backed 5/2 favourite. Raced green being pulled to run against the rails.  But showed plenty of resolution under pressure picking up to almost mug winner on the line. Plenty to like about this filly who has enough speed in the family to suggest a run soon over the minimum at a stiff track will suit. Stable in fine form at the moment so expect a quick follow up as this early foal (Feb) will have gained from this experience.

SALVATORE FURY (pos)

A class 6 sprint handicap for three year olds did not look too promising but there were a couple here who had run well recently Edith Annie had won at Redcar ahead of Megaleka  (disappointing sixth and seventh today suggesting it was a weakfish race)and Jofranka (won well today) had been very promising second at Catterick.      So plenty in it who looked straighter than my eyecatcher  and third home SF. A gelding out of Nocturnal  who only raced over 5f and in truth appeared to struggle over even over that trip to stay but was rated 96 after only three efforts as a three year old, She has produced a listed runner up from only eight foals to date. The family has plenty of sprint speed in it but many looked good over a mlle.  Missed the kick today  and was dropped in being held up. Had a bit of an awkward head carriage looking like he was distracted easily. But he stayed on in good style over this 5f trip looking like he needed 6f and I think capable of winning a minor event off this OR 54 which is well down on this AW rating of 62. This rating was based on a good 6th over 7f here followed up by and even more encouraging  second over 6f on the AW both in nurseries. Didn’t seem to stay 7f when tried over that trip again and then blew chances mucking about at the start at Musselburgh followed by hating the mud at Redcar. His quirky nature may well suggest that blinkers might help his concentration. He looks a fair option over 6f off this 54OR and on decent ground. I think he is most likely to pop up somewhere like Musselburgh or Hamiliton and hopefully with some headgear.

TITUS BOLT (pos)

In form trainer Richard Fahey won this in a driving finish with Going Grey and it looked a competitive event. However the fourth home TB and fifth home Regal Swain both made eyecatching late progress. The latter probably was the most flashy but it is Jum Golie’s TB who I will be looking out for going forward.  TB’s family has some interesting members including the winner of a grade 2 juvenille hirdle and the Oaks heroine Sariska. There is plenty of stamina in there in the form of Ascot Gold Cup placed Compton Ace and winner of Cesarawitch and Irsih St Leger. So on the basis of pedigree he looks made for NH with enough in there to suggest would benefit from 20f over sticks. He was settled in midfield on the outer today as the main pack lobbed along a bit and the frontrunner had gone for gold and had a massive lead coming into the straight. However in this wind it is hard to hold on to such a long lead and he was reeled in about two out. As a consequence the race was not run at a strong pace and this did not suit TB. He made smooth progress from 2 out and was given a considerate ride not being knocked about at all to finish a very close fourth home. He had already run over timber and is very promising over obstacles clearly showing enough at home to be entered into the Scottish triumph hurdle at Musselburgh where he finished 5th as such his OR over sticks of 110 might make it difficult to land a handicap but he is an unpenalised novice so surely he can pick one of those up in Scotland? Continues to look well treated on the level off 58 which is not far off his winning mark on firmish ground at Windsor (battled well that day after being held up) He has been visored in the past but hasn’t worn one for ages and in fact doesn’t seem to be worthwhile. In short TB looks an interesting proposition on firmish ground over 10f and can win a novice hurdle.

SIZE (pos)

The seven furlong maiden was a funny event. There were two runners  Big Johnny G (6 runs and won today) and Nurpur (8 runs and well beaten today)  with bags more experience than the rest.  It was one of the newcomers Size who caught the eye. He is a four year old gelding having blinkers on for his debut so you would image he has been a right handful getting broken. He dwelt in the stalls and was soon behind but was bussled up to get on the rails as a bit of a distraction. He settled then and was moved to the centre of the track to make an effort approaching 2 out.  He quickened fine and looked to be able to give the much more experienced Big Johnny G a fight for it close home. But he ran green or hung about in the final furlong. He is a strong sort of horse and looked to need the run as was a bit burly to my eye. He is nicely bred by and Eclipse winner out of a line which has produced recent listed winners and placed in Lowther and Albany group races. The winner was rated 75 today so off levels you would hope Size might come in on say 72 and if so when he is eligible to do so I think a mile handicap will be in his scope. However  at the moment I will pass on his temperament and just put it down to greenness for now.


A SOUTHSIDE BOY (watch)

He was a good positve when I saw him run with promise over 2m at Wetherby earlier in the season appearing to need a further trip over hurdles. He then followed up very profitably over 20f at Ayr returning at 6/1. He appeared on the flat today in a class 6 handicap over a mile and a half. He led or disputed the lead till outpaced from about two out. He tried to stretch them today but the pace was never really enough to put most of the field in difficulty and coming into the straight there looked at least half a dozen ready to pick ASL up. It was still a fair effort, he looked in good shape today and may well run a good race if put back over hurdles but for me he is a watch for the time being.