NORTH YORKSHIRE sprinter Head Space had so much in hand when winning at Ayr last Friday night that, after sweeping clear of his rivals, he proceeded to jump the finishing line like a champion hurdler.
He may not have the luxury of being able to stage a repeat at Newcastle tomorrow evening, but Ruth Carr’s progessive gelding is napped to follow up in the Betfred Gosforth Park Cup.
Jimmy Sullivan, having been forced to sit tight when Head Space demonstrated his jumping ability in Scotland, will again be in the saddle in the feature race, which represents a step up in class.
The style of his latest win, however, suggests there is more to come from Head Space, who is taken to bring another prize back to his Stillington base.
Hakuna Matata is selected to reverse placings with his recent conqueror, Le Chat d’Or, in the betfred.com Handicap.
Brian Ellison was adamant that Hakuna Matata arrived on the scene too soon when Le Chat d’Or beat him on this course on their latest encounter. Amy Ryan will doubtless be instructed to play her cards even later this time, in which case, revenge could be on the cards.
Michael Dods, trainer of Le Chat d’Or, can still make his mark with Gowanharry in the Betfred/Kevin Lee Memorial Handicap.
It took Gowanharry three tries before she opened her account this season, but she broke her duck in battling style here recently. Furthermore, she proved her ability on soft ground, a surface she will almost certainly encounter tomorrow.
Ron Harris, whose dual-York winner Judge ‘N Jury tackles Head Space in the Gosforth Park Cup and will not go down without a fight, has another good chance on the card with Prodigality in the Betfred ‘The Bonus King’ Handicap.
A Wolverhampton winner in the winter, and held in some regard, Prodigality was narrowly beaten on his reappearance at Nottingham. He may now be poised to go one better.
At Doncaster, Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore look a partnership to follow throughout the card.
The Newmarket combination, who twice teamed up successfully at Royal Ascot last week, have good prospects with Desert Sunrise (2.00), a promising runner-up on his debut at Lingfield, Uprise (2.30), who returns to turf from Polytrack, and the promising Shada (4.45), who started favourite, and finished third, in her only juvenile start last year.
The Trade Union Congress Novice Stakes features five runners, four of whom are previous winners.
The pick of the bunch may be Maxentius (3.00), who impressed after being sent off the odds-on favourite on his one and only start at Folkestone.
Racing selections
Doncaster (tomorrow)
2.00 Desert Sunrise, 2.30 Uprise, 3.00 Maxentius, 3.35 Van Der Art, 4.10 Getabuzz, 4.45 Shada, 5.20 Picture Dealer, 5.50 Untold Melody.
Newcastle (tomorrow)
6.05 Lucky Money, 6.40 Ensejaam, 7.15 Mid Mon Lady, 7.45 Head Space (NAP), 8.15 Hakuna Matata, 8.50 Prodigality, 9.20 Gowanharry.
Tomorrow’s other meetings
Chester, Folkestone, Musselburgh and Newmarket.
Today’s meetings
Hamilton, Leicester, Newcastle, Warwick and Yarmouth.
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