Kevin Darley, who received a two-day ban for careless riding on third-placed Right Wing in Saturday's Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster, before winning a Listed race on Monaassib, can strike top form at Newcastle tomorrow.
The Sheriff Hutton-based jockey has a host of fancied mounts. He can start by winning on Glastonbury in the EBF Maiden Stakes.
This unraced two-year old, owned by Peter Saville, is trained by Mick Channon, who turned out a successful juvenile at Doncaster last Friday.
A son of Common Ground, Glastonbury is reported to have done well in his work at home and I expect him to make a winning debut.
Darley can also lift the Holystone Maiden Stakes on King of The River. Peter Chapple-Hyam's colt ran only twice last term but showed ability when third to Confirmation on his debut at Ayr.
Another triumph for Darley can be in the St Modwen Handicap aboard Mondragon. Mary Reveley's eight-year-old, out of luck on the all-weather this winter, got off the mark over hurdles at the first time of asking on this course earlier this month when comfortably beating the favourite Skillwise by three and a half lengths. Clearly in good heart, Mondragon is napped to follow-up here as he reverts to the Flat.
The feature race of Newcastle's mixed programme is the 49's Sprint Handicap over five furlongs in which my vote is for Mungo Park, a course and distance winner last October for Sandhutton trainer Lynda Ramsden.
A quirky customer, who can sometimes turn in a below-par effort, Mungo Park is fancied to strike form on his seasonal debut in the hands of Jimmy Fortune.
In the two jump-races on the card make a note of the promising Setting Sun (2.10) and Callernoy (4.00), who can follow up his easy Catterick success three weeks ago.
At Nottingham, Pat Eddery can register his first win of the season. Eddery, unsuccessful on Luso in Saturday's Dubai World Cup, can score tomorrow on Saguaro in division one of the Bassingfield Maiden Stakes.
Trained by John Gosden, Saguaro showed definite signs of ability on his only outing as a juvenile when runner-up to Shalaal in a maiden race at Leicester last autumn. He can start his second campaign on a successful note.
Fitness is at a premium at this early stage of the Flat season, and Sofyaan will not be found wanting in that department in the Kimberley Handicap.
Lady Herries' five-year-old ran as recently as a fortnight ago over hurdles and goes into battle tomorrow as fit as any horse in the field. Ray Cochrane has the mount.
David Barron's Middle East (3.40) found this course a happy hunting ground last season, and is worthy of respect, while Alpine Panther (4.45), another horse fit from hurdling, can add to Mary Reveley's tally of winners under Tony Culhane.
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article