It's Amazing Red for Simon Holt in Saturday's Northumberland Plate - check out his full Saturday preview.
Recommended bets
2pts win Amazing Red in 2.05 Newcastle at 15/2
2pts win Sir Dancelot in 1.45 Newmarket at 4/1
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- For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, click here
Selections:
Amazing Red 2.05 Newcastle 2pts win
Sir Dancealot 1.45 Newmarket 2pts win
AMAZING RED, a half-brother to three-time Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux, can prove the most progressive horse in the field in Saturday's Stobart Rail & Civils Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.
Like his sibling, who made his first trip to Flemington as a five-year-old for trainer Ed Dunlop, the son of Teofilo (now five) seems to be maturing nicely and has won two of his last three starts, latterly very impressively at Newmarket when drawing three-and-a-half lengths clear of Golden Wolf who had previously chased home subsequent Royal Ascot winner Dash Of Spice at Epsom.
Set to carry a 5lb penalty for that success, Amazing Red is still 4lb well in here on his future rating and proved, like Red Cadeaux, that he can also handle an artificial surface when scoring at Kempton in early May.
The likely solid pace here, the lack of which may have proved his undoing behind Shabeeb (he also suffered interference) at Newmarket two starts ago, should again bring out the best in Jim Crowley's mount with future progress a strong possibility.
The big danger is Withold, though Roger Charlton's gambled-on Cesarewitch winner hasn't been seen since his decisive defeat of London Prize at Newmarket last October when last week's Ascot Stakes principals Lagostovegas (now 5lb better off for nearly nine lengths) and Dubawi Fifty finished third and fourth with Time To Study and Watersmeet (much better on an all-weather surface) well beaten.
Up 12lb now, Robert Winston's mount could easily be a future Cup horse but was beaten off a mark of just 79 on his only previous appearance on an artificial surface and trainer Roger Charlton was a bit guarded regarding his prospects earlier in the week.
Lagostovegas has had 11 days to recover since her win at the Royal meeting for which, like the selection, she carries a 5lb penalty and, providing in the same form, should go well despite being unproven on anything other than grass and dropping half a mile in trip.
Last year's winner Higher Power, who beat Natural Scenery (3lb better off) by half a length with Lord George (now 11lb worse off) a close-up fourth and Sir Chauvelin (2lb better) sixth, is only a pound higher now reflecting some disappointing performances since.
Indeed, of the aforementioned, Sir Chauvelin appeals most this time following his strong-finishing second behind Dash Of Spice at Royal Ascot (Top Tug fifth) over just a mile-and-a-half.
At Newmarket, SIR DANCEALOT can confirm his liking for the heath by taking the Group Three Betway Criterion Stakes.
The four-year-old, who has developed into a splendid physical specimen, found last week's Diamond Jubilee a bit hot finishing seventh behind Merchant Navy but this quick reappearance over an extra furlong on fast ground can pay off.
Sir Dancealot went down by just half a length to recent winner Above The Rest in the Bunbury Cup over this course and distance last July and also ran well on the Rowley Mile course in April when beaten just half a length by Brando in the Abernant Stakes after which he proved his effectiveness on a sound surface when third behind Harry Angel and Brando in the Duke Of York Stakes a few weeks later.
While this looks a tight race on official ratings, Gerald Mosse's mount takes a marked drop in class.
Preview posted 1530 BST on 29/06/18
