Richard Whitaker broke his duck for the season with a double at York a fortnight ago and the Scarcroft trainer is aiming to strike while the iron is hot with Shaloo Diamond at Newcastle tomorrow.

Whitaker placed the seven-year-old to win at Ripon last week, a victory which saw him sluice through the heavy ground and come from last to first under Alyson Deniel in the second division of the Ladies’ Derby.

Whitaker did have the option of putting Deniel on Shaloo Diamond again and sending him up to Hamilton tomorrow evening for the ladies’ race, but he has elected for Newcastle and the Betfred Handicap, with Amy Ryan on board.

Even with a 6lb penalty, this in-form performer is fancied to make a bold bid.

David Brown’s high opinion of New Pearl has taken a couple of knocks lately. Not only was his Newmarket winner in May turned over at long odds-on at Pontefract next time, he was also comfortably held in last week’s Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

New Pearl turns out quickly in the Betfred Novice Stakes and faces a much lesser test.

Admittedly, Jubilee Games was a winner at Musselburgh on his second start, but New Pearl, certainly if he’s half as good as trainer Brown thinks he is, should have the edge. Robert Winston has the mount.

In the Betfred Seaton Delaval Handicap, Sledmere trainer Declan Carroll has good prospects with Swiftly Done.

Danny Tudhope’s mount scored at Doncaster last time when getting the better of Classic Colori and, despite a 5lb rise, is expected to be competitive once again.

In the Betfred ‘Bonus King Bingo’ Handicap, La Bacouetteuse is napped to relish the step up to two miles.

Iain Jardine’s seven-year-old has won two of his last three starts at Musselburgh and Hamilton and is clearly in great heart. He looks as though a stiffer test of stamina will suit him even better and is expected to take plenty of beating.

At Hamilton’s evening meeting, Asterales is selected to win the Rogano Glasgow Lady Amateur Riders’ Handicap.

The five-year-old won narrowly at Thirsk on Monday night, showing a good attitude in the process. A follow up is fancied to be on the cards with Emily Jones in the saddle.

Alan Swinbank’s Red Joker shaped well on his debut at Newcastle to finish second to Silent Footsteps. He looked as though that experience would bring him on further and it would be no surprise to see him go one better in the Taggarts Motor Group Maiden Stakes.

Mark Johnston introduces a nicely-bred son of Pivotal in Centrifugal in the Irn Bru Open Maiden Stakes. He may not not need to be more than average to clinch this modest-looking contest.

Also worth noting at Hamilton, where the last race is staged at 9.50pm, are Brian Ellison’s Certral (8.20), dropping back to a winning distance after trying 12 furlongs at York last time, and Crimson Knot (9.20), a course winner last month.

Racing selections

Newcastle (tomorrow)

2.00 New Pearl, 2.30 Unsinkable, 3.00 Swiftly Done, 3.30 La Bacouetteuse (NAP), 4.00 The Ducking Stool, 4.30 Shaloo Diamond, 5.00 Dutch Rose.

Hamilton (tomorrow)

6.50 Asterales, 7.20 Red Joker, 7.50 Centrifugal, 8.20 Certral, 8.50 Fol Hollow, 9.20 Crimson Knot, 9.50 Peter Anders.

Tomorrow’s other meetings

Leicester, Warwick and Yarmouth.

Today’s meetings

Bath, Carlisle, Kempton, Salisbury and Worcester.