The Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer Handicap (5.15) at Newcastle on Friday looks competitive enough for the grade, but Horsforth is 2-2 on synthetic surfaces, including over course and distance in September and may be progressive enough to complete a hat-trick. The Kyllachy filly has been raised 4lb in the weights for winning at Nottingham earlier this month, but her earlier defeat of Zipedeedodah at Chelmsford has been franked by runner-up, who won in this grade at Wolverhampton last Saturday, so she hardly looks overburdened. Conor Beasley has won on four of his last 11 rides for Richard Guest, including Horsforth herself, and the ‘miracle jockey’ – who fractured his skull and spine and suffered a neck injury in a horrific fall at Wolverhampton in July 2015 – can chalk up another victory.
The Strongarm – The Northern Legend Apprentice Handicap (6.45) is another dog-eat-dog contest, but Richard Guest appears to have another decent chance with Lady Bacchus, who opened her account over 5 furlongs at Gosforth Park 10 days ago and appears fully effective over an extra furlong. The Compton Place filly showed next to nothing in her first half a dozen starts, but she’s bred to be a decent sprinter and, now that the penny has finally dropped, may be able to defy a 6lb penalty in another ordinary race.
Selections: Newcastle 5.15 Horsforth, Newcastle 6.45 Lady Bacchus, 1-point Win Double
