Keep a close eye on Braille at Newcastle tomorrow – that’s the advice as the North Yorkshire sprinter takes a step up from five to six furlongs.

The extra distance is expected to bring about a return to winning form for the well-named gelding who has only one eye – not that it impedes him at all from racing competitively.

A Redcar winner two seasons ago, Braille, trained at Sheriff Hutton by Tim Walford, drew a blank from limited opportunities last year, but he has shown in his two outings this season at Nottingham and Musselburgh, that he retains his ability.

A staying-on fourth to Chosen One on his latest start, Braille should relish tomorrow’s extra furlong in the Newcastle International Airport 75th Anniversary Handicap. He is awarded the nap vote to score under Duran Fentiman.

Alan Lockwood, based at Brawby between Malton and Kirkbymoorside, has yet to get off the mark this season with his small string, but he has a fighting chance tomorrow with Bollin Freddie in the TSG Enterprise Solutions Handicap.

A Beverley winner last season, Bollin Freddie has shaped with promise in his two outings so far this term. He should now be coming to hand and is teamed up with apprentice Shane Kelly, who is attached to John Quinn’s Norton yard and who rode him last time out on this course.

The promising Ahtoug (2.10), narrowly beaten on his debut, and the potentially useful Chardonnay (4.30), trained by Alan Swinbank for owner-breeder Guy Reed, are two others to note on the Newcastle card.

At Newmarket, Mark Johnston and Henry Cecil both have good prospects of a double.

Middleham-based Johnston saddles St Moritz in the Edmondson Hall Solicitors & Sports Lawyers Handicap and this promising four-year-old is expected to make a bold bid.

St Moritz shaped well on his recent comeback run on this course when finishing a close-up third to Vainglory. With that outing under his belt, he should be fitter and sharper this time. Frankie Dettori has the mount.

Spirit Is Needed is Johnston’s runner in the Elecheck Handicap and Greg Fairley’s mount is fancied to shrug off a 6lb penalty, following a decisive two and a half lengths defeat of The Last Alzao at Haydock last week.

If none the worse for that – his first race of the season – Spirit Is Needed should follow up.

Cecil also saddles a penalised runner, Feathered Crown, who lines up for the Lloyds TSB Commercial Handicap. A fluent winner at Leicester last week, Tom Queally’s mount may not be halted by an extra 6lb.

Cecil and Queally can also strike with All Action in the Peters Elworthy & Moore Maiden Stakes. He was a good second on his debut at Newbury.


Racing selections

Newcastle
2.10 Ahtoug, 2.45 Urban Clubber, 3.20 Bollin Freddie, 3.55 Mason Hindmarsh, 4.30 Chardonnay, 5.05 Stratton Banker, 5.40 Braille (NAP).

Newmarket
2.20 Cape Dollar, 2.55 Feathered Crown, 3.30 All Action, 4.05 St Moritz, 4.40 Spirit Is Needed, 5.15 Cultured Pride, 5.50 Rosco Flyer.

Tomorrow’s other meetings:
Brighton, Haydock, Pointefract and Straford.

Today’s meetings:
Ayr, Brighton, Newcastle, Sandown, Wetherby and Wolverhampton.

The card for tomorrow evening’s Pontefract meeting will be published and previewed in The Press tomorrow.